Saudi Arabia and United States have struck a landmark deal that could allow the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program, according to the news reports citing people familiar with the matter.
Donald Trump has approved an agreement with Saudi Arabia, the people who were not authorized to. Reports claim that the agreement may be announced as early as Wednesday. The deal was reported by both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. The deal is expected to last 30 years and will probably involve U.S. firms in developing the program.
It would allow for the building of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia after a joint U.S.-Saudi study. It is expected to be submitted to the Congress in the U.S. Congress for review, where it could face headwinds among lawmakers who fear that it may face opposition from the lawmakers who fear that Saudi Arabia Saudis will fulfill their longstanding desire to enrich their own uranium, will wide open new rounds of nuclear proliferation and competition.
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However, Saudi Arabia is a signatory of the International Atomic Energy Agency that promotes peaceful nuclear network but also does inspection to make sure the countries do not have atomic weapons programs. The agreement, however, does not include IAEA’s Additional Protocol.
The expected deal between Saudi Arabia and the UAE come amid the US and Israel’s joint war against Iran to wipe out Tehran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran has instead its nuclear enrichment program, is. The White House officials in Riyadh have not immediately responded to requests for comments on the decisions, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
However, their analyst warns that the deal can open the door to a possible weapons program for the kingdom. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has already suggested to pursuing nuclear arms if Tehran obtains an atomic bomb. Energy Secretary Chris Wright had traveled to Saudi Arabia last year before the visit of Trump and discussed building out the kingdom’s commercial nuclear power industry with his Saudi counterpart.
The U.S. Department of Energy did not immediately respond to requests as well. Saudi Arabia has already signed a mutual defense pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan after Israel launched an attack on Qatar targeting Hamas officials. Pakistan’s defense minister then said his nation’s nuclear program will be made available to Saudi Arabia if needed. UAE has also, unable to Saudi Arabia has also signed a ‘123 agreement’ with the U.S. to build its Barakah nuclear power plant with South Korean assistance. But the UAE did so without seeking enrichment.
