A proposed US nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia is facing renewed scrutiny over whether it could increase proliferation risks. The debate intensified after a report said the agreement may include a provision allowing US companies to build an enrichment facility in the kingdom.
President Donald Trump pushed back on that idea, saying there would be no enrichment of material in Saudi Arabia. His remarks appeared aimed at calming concerns that the deal could open the door to sensitive nuclear activity inside the country.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also defended the proposed arrangement, saying it includes safeguards against nuclear proliferation. Those assurances are central to the US position as questions grow over how the deal would be structured and what limits would apply.
The issue has become a focal point because enrichment capabilities are widely seen as one of the most sensitive parts of any civilian nuclear agreement. With Trump denying that enrichment would be allowed in Saudi Arabia and reports suggesting otherwise, attention is likely to stay on the final terms of any US-Saudi nuclear pact.
