US President Donald Trump has said a major nuclear energy agreement with Saudi Arabia would move forward only if Riyadh normalizes relations with Israel. The condition would require the kingdom to join the Abraham Accords, the diplomatic framework linked to recognition of the Israeli state.
The reported arrangement centers on US help for Saudi Arabia’s nuclear energy development. Trump presented that cooperation as part of a broader regional deal, making clear that the nuclear agreement is tied to a political step by Saudi leaders rather than being treated as a separate issue.
The position places Saudi-Israel normalization at the center of US diplomacy in the Middle East. By linking nuclear support to the Abraham Accords, Washington is signaling that strategic partnerships and regional recognition efforts are being pursued together.
The remarks also underscore how sensitive the issue remains for Riyadh, which has not formally established ties with Israel. Trump’s comments suggest that any landmark US-Saudi nuclear deal would depend on progress in that diplomatic relationship first.
