US and Saudi Arabia Near Deal Allowing Limited Uranium Enrichment

The Trump administration provided preliminary approval for Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium on its own soil as part of a nuclear cooperation agreement, according to documents and sources cited by CNN Arabic. The deal would allow Riyadh to engage in limited uranium enrichment, a move that deviates from standard U.S. non-proliferation policies and has raised concerns within the U.S. Congress.

The agreement, detailed in reporting by CNN Arabic and corroborated by regional outlets including Al-Marsad and Sama News, marks a significant shift in the diplomatic and technical relationship between Washington and Riyadh.

According to CNN Arabic, the preliminary approval from the Trump administration included a provision that would allow Saudi Arabia to conduct this enrichment without the immediate activation of certain international safeguards.

U.S. Congressional Concerns Over Uranium Enrichment

The prospect of Saudi Arabia enriching uranium has triggered warnings within the U.S. Congress.

Reporting from Al-Marsad indicates that the agreement is considered unprecedented because it grants Riyadh a level of nuclear autonomy rarely extended to U.S. partners.

The reported deal for Saudi Arabia appears to waive or modify these requirements in favor of a “limited” enrichment capacity.

Technical Scope and International Safeguards

The documents cited by CNN Arabic suggest that the enrichment would be limited in scope, intended to support a civilian nuclear energy program. However, the report highlights that the preliminary agreement allows for this process to occur without the full activation of international guarantees, which typically involve rigorous inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Diplomatic Implications for the U.S.-Saudi Relationship

The reported details emerge as part of a wider effort by investigative sources to uncover the specifics of the nuclear pact, which has remained largely shielded from public view until the release of these documents and source-based reports.