Trump says Saudi nuclear pact requires kingdom to normalise Israel relations

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a new agreement reached with Saudi Arabia for a civilian nuclear programme will require the kingdom to normalise relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords.

In a post on social media, the Republican president said the deal doesn’t allow for enrichment of uranium. Nonproliferation experts have raised concerns that the deal fails to include guardrails to prevent enrichment of uranium to weapons-grade levels.

Trump's post said the agreement "will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords.”

He added that "The United States is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities.”

The Saudis have made clear that normalising relations with Israel would first require the establishment of a clear path for Palestinian statehood. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the idea of Palestinian statehood as being untenable for his country's security.

The Saudi Embassy in Washington on Thursday declined to comment on Trump's assertion that the deal will require the kingdom to join the accords.

The new nuclear deal announced on Wednesday is expected to last 30 years and involve US firms in the programme’s development. It could allow for the building of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia following a joint US-Saudi study, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The agreement is to be submitted to Congress for review, according to the US and Saudi governments.

The agreement does not include the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Additional Protocol, which would allow for more monitoring, inspections and verification, according to a second person familiar with the decision.

The kingdom’s Energy Ministry on Wednesday said the agreement bolsters "efforts to diversify energy sources, advance cutting-edge technologies, and expand opportunities for cooperation and investment in ways that serve the mutual interests of the two friendly countries.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in Manila on Thursday that the agreement would make certain that Saudi Arabia works with American companies instead of "competitors" on building out its civil nuclear programme.

China, South Korea, France and Russia are among alternative partners that Riyadh could look to to build its civil nuclear program.

"We’re not the only show in town, but we’re the best show in town,” Rubio said.

"We want to make sure that it’s our companies they’re picking.”

Associated Press