The Trump administration has tentatively agreed to allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium without enacting international safeguards intended to prevent nuclear weapons development, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Concerns Over Nuclear Proliferation

Experts have raised concerns that the deal could provide Saudi Arabia with a path to nuclear weapons unless stringent safeguards are put in place. The country’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has previously threatened to build his own nuclear weapons should Iran acquire the bomb.

The draft nuclear accord, which includes a civil nuclear cooperation deal and a mandatory nuclear safeguards agreement, is awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature despite US-Saudi negotiations concluding in October 2025.

US-Saudi Agreement

The agreement does not require Saudi Arabia to adopt a standard enhanced nuclear safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, known as the Additional Protocol. Instead, the safeguards deal will be only between the US and the kingdom.

The Trump administration has briefed some on Capitol Hill on the basic outlines of the Saudi nuclear accords, which include a special arrangement allowing for a degree of domestic uranium enrichment and/or plutonium reprocessing.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.