The Trump administration signed a commercial nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the pact, which gives American companies priority access to Saudi nuclear reactors and fuel.
The 30-year agreement, expected to be worth tens of billions of dollars, establishes a framework for U.S. firms to help develop Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear program. It includes a two-year study on whether uranium enrichment inside the kingdom is economically justified, with any facility built under a U.S.-managed arrangement.
The deal lacks the "gold standard" provisions that would bar Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or reprocessing fuel. It also does not require the kingdom to adopt stricter International Atomic Energy Agency oversight. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously stated that the kingdom would pursue nuclear weapons if Iran does so.
Congress has 90 days to review the agreement under the Atomic Energy Act. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would not reach any agreement that leads to proliferation risks. Critics in Congress have called for the same safeguards included in the 2009 deal with the United Arab Emirates.
