WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has conditioned a newly signed civilian nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia on the kingdom’s formal entry into the Abraham Accords, the landmark diplomatic framework that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority states.

The agreement was signed on July 22, 2026, by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and his Saudi counterpart. It establishes a framework for American companies to support the development of a civilian nuclear energy program in Saudi Arabia, providing technology and expertise while advancing commercial opportunities estimated in the multi-billion-dollar range. The pact is subject to congressional review under Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act.

One day later, Trump stated on Truth Social that the deal “will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords.” He emphasized that the arrangement permits no uranium enrichment and is limited to non-military, civilian applications comparable to those already operating in the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed the administration’s position, declaring that the agreement is “off” unless Saudi Arabia normalizes diplomatic relations with Israel. Trump reiterated to reporters that the condition had been understood by both sides throughout the negotiations.

Riyadh’s Longstanding Position

Saudi Arabia has consistently maintained that any normalization of relations with Israel must be linked to a credible pathway toward Palestinian statehood, in line with the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. As of early August 2026, Riyadh has issued no official public response to the president’s statement. An unnamed source familiar with Saudi thinking was reported to have dismissed the new condition, asserting that social-media posts do not alter signed agreements.

Israel Welcomes the Development

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s office welcomed the development. In a statement, it credited joint American and Israeli military operations against Iran with creating an opening to expand the “circle of peace” and described Saudi accession to the Accords as “a historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East.”

The Abraham Accords, Since 2020

Despite regional conflicts, economic and security cooperation among Accords partners has continued to expand, including increased trade volumes, joint military planning, and coordinated air-defense initiatives under U.S. Central Command.

Trump has repeatedly advocated broader expansion of the framework. In May 2026 he publicly urged Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and other nations to join, describing such participation as potentially mandatory in the context of wider regional negotiations.

A High-Stakes Balancing Act

The latest condition introduces significant uncertainty into the nuclear agreement and tests the administration’s ability to leverage energy cooperation and post-conflict dynamics to secure a major diplomatic breakthrough. Congressional scrutiny of the nuclear pact continues, and further high-level diplomacy will determine whether the dual objectives of civilian nuclear partnership and Accords expansion can be reconciled.

Related reading: U.S. Department of State — The Abraham Accords · U.S. Department of Energy