President Donald Trump has added a new condition to a nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, stating that the deal is subject to the country joining the Abraham Accords. The agreement, which has already been signed, provides Saudi Arabia with a civilian nuclear program.
Background
The deal has sparked criticism from Israeli officials and is expected to draw scrutiny on Capitol Hill. The agreement includes limits on inspections and does not require Saudi Arabia to sign a standard agreement called the Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Trump emphasized in a social media post that there would be no enrichment, despite the agreement potentially leading to Saudi Arabia enriching its own fuel for civilian reactors. The president’s move has been applauded by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, which sees Saudi Arabia’s joining of the Abraham Accords as a historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
