A deal that could let Saudi Arabia enrich its own uranium has been signed by the US and the Gulf kingdom, prompting fears of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. The "peaceful nuclear co-operation agreement" was announced by the US Department of Energy on Wednesday, alongside a bilateral safeguards agreement. Under the deal, announced by US President Donald Trump's administration, American companies would help Saudi Arabia build a civilian nuclear programme, potentially including a facility to enrich uranium on Saudi soil. The agreement is expected to last 30 years and involve US firms such as Westinghouse, according to reports.
The key point of controversy is uranium enrichment. Enriched uranium can be used as fuel for nuclear power plants, but the same technology can also produce material for nuclear weapons. Saudi Arabia has long sought the right to enrich its own uranium, rather than relying on imported fuel. The deal would allow that after a joint US-Saudi study, marking a shift in US non-proliferation policy. Previous US deals, such as the 2009 agreement with the United Arab Emirates, required the UAE to import all its nuclear fuel and forego enrichment.
“Explains the US-Saudi nuclear deal, why uranium enrichment is controversial, and the risks for global security and UK interests.”
This issue has deep roots. Saudi Arabia has pushed for enrichment rights since the George W. Bush administration. The Biden administration had tried to condition Saudi access to enrichment technology on normalising relations with Israel, something Saudi Arabia has refused. Now Trump has approved the deal without that condition. The timing is also controversial: the US is currently at war with Iran partly to prevent Tehran enriching uranium and building a nuclear bomb. Nuclear experts and former Israeli officials have voiced concern that the deal could ultimately enable Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons. Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett called it a "grave strategic failure that endangers our security," and opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman warned it would "lead to a mad arms race across the entire Middle East."
For UK readers, this matters because it could reshape global nuclear non-proliferation efforts. The UK is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. A new state with enrichment capability in a volatile region increases the risk of proliferation. The deal may also affect UK energy markets: if Saudi Arabia develops a nuclear programme, it could reduce global demand for oil, potentially lowering prices. But the bigger concern is security. The UK has close ties with both the US and Saudi Arabia, and a nuclear-armed Saudi Arabia could destabilise the region, affecting British military deployments and counter-terrorism efforts.
Q: What is a 123 agreement? A 123 agreement is a legal framework under Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954. It allows the US to transfer nuclear technology and material to another country, with conditions on how it can be used. The new US-Saudi deal is a 123 agreement, and it will now be sent to the US Congress for review.
Q: Could Saudi Arabia build a nuclear bomb with this deal? The deal is for a civilian programme, but enrichment technology that produces reactor fuel can also produce weapons-grade uranium. Saudi Arabia has said it would need a nuclear weapon if Iran acquired one. Without strict monitoring — the deal may not include the International Atomic Energy Agency's additional protocol — there are fears it could be a stepping stone to a bomb.
Q: Why does Israel oppose the deal? Israel is believed to have its own undeclared nuclear arsenal and sees a nuclear-armed Saudi Arabia as an existential threat. Israeli leaders across the political spectrum have condemned the deal, arguing it will trigger an arms race and undermine Israel's regional military dominance.
What happens next is uncertain. The agreement must be reviewed by the US Congress, where some lawmakers on both sides are expected to oppose it. However, Trump's Republican Party controls both chambers, so it may pass. If the deal goes ahead, the next step would be a joint study and possible construction of enrichment facilities in Saudi Arabia, a process that could take years. The long-term impact will depend on whether Saudi Arabia pursues nuclear weapons — and how the international community responds.