US President Donald Trump has said a newly agreed civilian nuclear partnership with Saudi Arabia will only proceed if the kingdom normalises diplomatic relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, adding a fresh geopolitical condition to the proposed agreement.
Trump disclosed on Thursday that the 30-year nuclear agreement, expected to involve American companies, would prohibit Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium, even as experts raised concerns that the deal may not contain sufficient safeguards to prevent enrichment to weapons-grade levels.
The president’s remarks came a day after the US Energy Department and the Saudi government announced the civilian nuclear agreement without mentioning any requirement for Riyadh to establish formal ties with Israel.
Speaking on social media, Trump said Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Abraham Accords was a condition for the deal, a statement that surprised observers given its omission from the official announcement.
When asked why the condition was absent from Wednesday’s announcement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump remained committed to expanding the Abraham Accords and had repeatedly encouraged Saudi Arabia to join the agreement.
“The president is the final dealmaker,” Leavitt said, adding that Trump had called on Saudi Arabia to normalise relations with Israel “on numerous occasions.”
The latest development comes as tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East.
In Yemen, the Iran-backed Houthi movement threatened to impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, raising fears of a wider regional conflict that could further disrupt global oil supplies and international trade.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday, while international crude prices climbed to around $100 per barrel.
Trump warned the group of “major military punishment” should attacks on commercial shipping continue.
Meanwhile, the US House of Representatives narrowly passed a resolution seeking to halt further US military action in Iran without congressional approval, approving the measure by 214 votes to 208. Although largely symbolic, the resolution signals growing concern among lawmakers over the expanding conflict.
The House also approved a Republican-backed $95 billion budget proposal intended to fund the Iran war and other White House priorities, though the measure still requires Senate approval before it can become law.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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