US President Donald Trump has approved a 30-year civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that could eventually allow the kingdom to enrich uranium for its nuclear energy programme under a modified oversight framework, CNN reported, citing two US officials and a source familiar with the matter.
According to the report, the agreement could be announced as early as Wednesday and would pave the way for American companies to provide technology and expertise to help develop Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear sector.
The proposed deal is expected to be sent to the US Congress for review after its announcement. CNN said the agreement had remained on hold for months because of concerns within the administration over the conflict with Iran and the possibility of opposition in Congress.
Under the arrangement, a joint US-Saudi team would first assess whether uranium enrichment in the kingdom is commercially viable and necessary. If the project proceeds, American firms would build the enrichment facility while retaining control over sensitive technology, according to CNN.
The report said Saudi Arabia would be barred from independently developing uranium enrichment technology or acquiring it from third countries for the first 10 years of the agreement, citing details first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The agreement does not require Saudi Arabia to adopt the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Additional Protocol — widely regarded as the international "gold standard" for nuclear safeguards. Instead, it provides for a bilateral safeguards arrangement that US officials told CNN is designed to address Saudi concerns while maintaining oversight. The new safeguards framework would still require approval from the IAEA Board of Governors.
According to CNN, both the Trump and Biden administrations pursued civilian nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia. Under former President Joe Biden, such an agreement was linked to broader efforts to advance Saudi-Israeli normalisation, but those negotiations stalled following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. The Trump administration later revived the discussions.
Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported that the agreement could generate billions of dollars in business for the US nuclear industry. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright discussed expanding Saudi Arabia's commercial nuclear power programme during a visit to the kingdom last year, ahead of President Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia.
