Nuclear deal that would permit uranium enrichment by Saudi Arabia in limbo awaiting Trump admin sign-off

Key Points:

• The Trump administration has tentatively agreed to allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium without requiring the enhanced international safeguards typically aimed at preventing nuclear weapons development, pending President Trump's signature on a draft nuclear accord.
• The agreement includes a civil nuclear cooperation deal and a bilateral safeguards agreement but notably does not require Saudi Arabia to adopt the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Additional Protocol, which provides more stringent oversight.
• Concerns have been raised by experts and Capitol Hill members that the deal could enable Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons capabilities, especially given the country's potential to enrich uranium and reprocess plutonium domestically without the "gold standard" safeguards seen in previous US agreements, such as with the UAE.
• The Trump administration has delayed sending the agreement to Congress for review, reportedly due to ongoing tensions with Iran and potential bipartisan opposition, while emphasizing the deal's focus on peaceful civilian nuclear cooperation and nonproliferation commitments.
• Critics warn that allowing Saudi Arabia a bespoke safeguards arrangement could set a precedent for other countries, potentially undermining global nonproliferation efforts and complicating US relations with rival powers like Russia and China.