Trump Administration Reaches Tentative Nuclear Deal Allowing Saudi Uranium Enrichment Under US Safeguards

The Trump administration has tentatively agreed to allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium without requiring the standard enhanced safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The draft nuclear accord, which includes a civil nuclear cooperation deal known as a 123 agreement and a bilateral safeguards pact, is awaiting President Donald Trump's signature.

Negotiations between the United States and Saudi Arabia concluded in October 2025.

The ongoing war with Iran has contributed to the delay in final approval, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The administration has not sent the signed agreements to Congress for review, as required by federal law. -Saudi deal and will not involve the IAEA's Additional Protocol.

The administration's 2025 waiver report to Congress stated that the bilateral agreement employs additional safeguards and verification measures in proliferation-sensitive areas and that the IAEA would have the necessary tools for its work. -imposed stipulations, though details remain unclear.

The Trump administration briefed some members of Congress on the basic outlines earlier this year, previewing a special arrangement for domestic uranium enrichment or plutonium reprocessing that one source described as unprecedented for such a deal.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced in October 2025 that the sides had reached a deal for civil nuclear cooperation. -UAE nuclear agreement, by contrast, required the United Arab Emirates to adopt enhanced IAEA oversight and forgo enrichment and reprocessing.

Kelsey Davenport of the Arms Control Association said the Additional Protocol was designed to give the IAEA more access after basic safeguards proved insufficient.