Key Points
- Washington and Riyadh finalized a civilian nuclear pact granting Saudi Arabia rights to enrich uranium and construct reactors with U.S. technology
- Unlike previous proposals, the agreement doesn’t mandate snap UN nuclear inspections that were required in the Iran negotiations
- Current and former Israeli leadership have expressed alarm that the pact may catalyze nuclear weapons development across the region
- Congress now has a 90-session-day window to review and potentially block the agreement
- The multi-decade contract, valued at tens of billions, positions Westinghouseājointly owned by Cameco and Brookfield Asset Managementāas the primary beneficiary
Washington and Riyadh have formalized a civilian nuclear cooperation pact that grants Saudi Arabia the authority to enrich uranium and develop nuclear power facilities utilizing American technology. The so-called 123 Agreement received signatures from U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.
šØšøš¦ šŗšøBREAKING: It’s signed. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have inked a nuclear cooperation pact opening the door to enrichment on Saudi soil.
-Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed a “123 agreement” plus an accompanyingā¦ pic.twitter.com/NzH7jNVPKF
ā Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 22, 2026
Congressional approval represents the next hurdle for the agreement. Lawmakers have 90 legislative days to potentially halt the pact; otherwise, it automatically becomes effective. Any attempt to override a presidential veto would require a two-thirds supermajority in both chambers.
Negotiations for a civilian nuclear partnership with Saudi Arabia have spanned multiple years, continuing through both Trump and Biden presidencies. Earlier attempts collapsed in part due to objections from nuclear nonproliferation advocates concerned about proliferation risks.
Enhanced Inspection Protocols Not Mandated
Diverging from the framework pursued during the Biden presidency, this agreement doesn’t compel Saudi Arabia to adopt the Additional Protocol. This protocol empowers the International Atomic Energy Agency to conduct surprise inspections at facilities not officially declared.
Saudi Arabia presently adheres to conventional IAEA oversight measures, which extend only to acknowledged installations. The newly signed pact authorizes the kingdom to enrich uranium and reprocess nuclear materialsāprocesses that could potentially advance weapons development.
In contrast, the United Arab Emirates committed to forgoing both enrichment and reprocessing activities when it negotiated a comparable agreement with Washington in 2009.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has stated openly that his nation would develop nuclear weapons should regional adversary Iran acquire them.
Israeli Leadership Sounds Alarm
The agreement has provoked intense criticism from Israeli political circles. Naftali Bennett, a former prime minister, characterized it as “a serious strategic failure that endangers our security.” He cautioned that permitting uranium enrichment on Saudi territory could ignite a regional nuclear competition.
Avigdor Lieberman, who previously served as defence minister, predicted the civilian initiative would “end in nuclear weapons” and launch an arms race throughout the Middle East. He urged Israel to persuade Congress to vote down the agreement.
Benny Gantz, another former defence chief, argued that no security expert would endorse introducing civilian nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia unless it formed part of a comprehensive regional alliance strategy.
Current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with his defence and foreign affairs ministers, have yet to issue public statements on the matter.
Economic Implications
The pact spans approximately three decades and encompasses construction of AP1000 reactor technology. Valued at tens of billions of dollars, the agreement represents a substantial commercial victory for Westinghouse, which operates under joint ownership by Canadian uranium producer Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management.
According to an industry insider, the agreement necessitates completion of a feasibility assessment. Considering the typically lengthy timeline for nuclear facility development, actual construction may not commence for several years.
Proponents framed the agreement partially as a strategic measure to prevent Saudi Arabia from partnering with China or Russia, nations that maintain different nonproliferation frameworks.
Certain U.S. legislators across party lines have voiced reservations. Senator Edward Markey contended the pact would “make us all less safe.” Senator Jim Risch countered that the arrangement serves mutual interests.
Nuclear nonproliferation specialists have called on Congress to either reject or substantially amend the agreement to prevent additional nuclear weapons development in the Middle East.
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