Trump reportedly approves nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia

In return, the agreement is to deny other foreign competitors access to the Saudi nuclear market and secure US companies a key role in building the infrastructure. The Crown Prince and de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, has repeatedly affirmed his country's "great interest" in a nuclear program.

Background: Rivalry with Iran

The background is the years-long struggle for regional supremacy between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Both countries belong to different Islamic denominations – Riyadh is dominated by the Sunni, Tehran by the Shiite branch. Mistrust has characterized the relationship for decades.

In a 2018 CBS interview, the Crown Prince had also declared that Saudi Arabia would pursue nuclear weapons "as soon as possible" if Iran did so. This statement illustrates how sensitively the topic is treated in Riyadh and what pressure weighed on the negotiations.

Reactions in Washington

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright had negotiated over such an agreement during a trip to the region in April 2025. The US government had previously also held talks with Saudi Arabia on a possible normalization of bilateral relations with Israel.

Following the start of the Gaza war in late 2023, negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which had been initiated in 2023 under Chinese mediation, were suspended again. The news of the nuclear agreement now coincides with the escalation of the Iran war.

Impact on the region

Trump agreed to conditions that could potentially prevent international inspectors from gaining access to certain sites suspected of diverting nuclear fuel for weapons programs. This could complicate oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Many members of the US Congress reject the expansion of nuclear technology in the politically unstable Middle East. Critics warn of a nuclear arms race in the unstable region. The debate over the agreement is therefore likely to continue in Washington.

Should the agreement enter into force, it would be a further milestone in the reordering of American-Saudi relations – with far-reaching consequences for the nuclear architecture of the region.