President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that a new agreement reached with Saudi Arabia for a civilian nuclear program will require the kingdom to normalize relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords.

Details of the Agreement

The agreement, which is expected to last 30 years, will involve U.S. firms in the program’s development and could allow for the building of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia following a joint U.S.-Saudi study.

Nonproliferation experts have raised concerns that the deal fails to include guardrails to prevent enrichment of uranium to weapons-grade levels. Trump’s post said the agreement does not allow for enrichment of uranium.

Abraham Accords and Middle East Stability

Trump has sought to build on the 2020 agreements, which expanded the number of Middle East countries with diplomatic ties with Israel. Saudi Arabia is the most important Arab power in the Middle East, and Trump believes the kingdom joining the accords is critical to establishing long-term stability in the region.

The Saudis have made clear that normalizing relations with Israel would first require the establishment of a clear path for Palestinian statehood. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the idea of Palestinian statehood as being untenable for his country’s security.

Original reporting: KTSA News/Talk (San Antonio) — read the source article.