On July 22, 2026, the Trump administration signed a commercial nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the deal, which allows American companies to supply nuclear reactors and fuel for power plants in the kingdom. The Department of Energy stated the agreement is expected to last decades and generate billions of dollars in commercial activity.
The agreement now moves to Congress for a 90-day review period. According to an administration memo, the deal grants U.S. companies priority access to the Saudi nuclear program but does not include "gold standard" provisions. These provisions would have prohibited Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or reprocessing nuclear fuel on its own soil. The memo stated the agreement complies with nonproliferation terms under the Atomic Energy Act and is focused on peaceful energy cooperation.
Critics of the deal, including Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), expressed concern that the lack of enrichment prohibitions could facilitate nuclear weapons development in the Middle East. Some experts, such as Matthew Bunn of Harvard's Kennedy School, suggested the terms might complicate future nuclear negotiations with Iran. Administration officials maintained the deal upholds safety standards while strengthening U.S.-Saudi commercial ties.