Trump adds new condition to Saudi Arabia nuclear deal
President Donald Trump has added a new condition to a civilian nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, requiring the kingdom to normalize relations with Israel via the Abraham Accords. This unexpected requirement complicates the finalization of the agreement.
Why it matters
The intersection of nuclear proliferation policy and Middle Eastern diplomatic relations has significant implications for global security and regional stability.
<p><a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/23/trump-threatens-irans-bridges-power-plants-if-hormuz-attacks-persist/" target="_blank">US President Donald Trump</a> on Friday appeared to add a condition to the <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/23/us-expected-to-sign-nuclear-deal-with-saudi-arabia/" target="_blank">newly signed agreement with Saudi Arabia</a> for a civilian nuclear program, saying the deal would require the kingdom to normalise its <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/14/airports-in-saudi-arabia-yemen-attacked/" target="_blank">relations with Israel</a> through the Abraham Accords.</p> <p>When the deal was announced, neither the US Energy Department nor the Saudi government made any mention of it being contingent on the kingdom's relations with Israel.</p> <p>Trump's social media post a day later asserting that the agreement was subject to the Saudis joining the accords was unexpected and almost certain to make finalising the deal complicated. The accords expanded the number of Arab and Muslim-majority nations with diplomatic ties with Israel. Getting Saudi Arabia to join would be a monumental diplomatic achievement.</p> <p>The Republican president also said the pact does not allow for enrichment of uranium.
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