Saudi Arabia must recognise Israel for the civil nuclear agreement

• Trump's condition for advancing the US–Saudi Arabia civil nuclear agreement

• Trump had dropped the condition last year

Washington, D.C. (USA) – Recognition of Israel by Saudi Arabia will be a prerequisite for advancing the significant civil nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia. US President Donald Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the agreement would not be finalised unless Saudi Arabia formally recognises Israel. Trump’s statement came shortly after his administration officially signed the agreement. Under the agreement, the United States will assist Saudi Arabia in developing a nuclear energy programme for peaceful purposes. Interestingly, the negotiations had progressed last year only after Trump temporarily removed the requirement for Saudi Arabia to recognise Israel.

Trump further stated that although the agreement has been approved, its full implementation will depend on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, which were initiated by the United States to normalise relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. These agreements have been regarded as significant steps towards peace and cooperation in the Middle East. The proposed nuclear cooperation agreement will be limited strictly to peaceful, non-military purposes, and no uranium enrichment will be permitted under its provisions.

If Iran develops nuclear weapons, we too will develop them: Mohammed bin Salman

Saudi Arabia has long sought to establish a civilian nuclear energy programme to diversify its energy sources. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously stated that if Iran becomes a nuclear-armed nation, Saudi Arabia will also consider developing nuclear weapons. Consequently, the agreement is also being viewed as part of the United States’ broader strategy to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia while limiting Iran’s regional influence.

Timeline of the US–Saudi Arabia civil nuclear cooperation agreement

1. 2020: During the first term of then US President Donald Trump, the Abraham Accords were signed, establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations.

2. October 2023: Following Hamas’s attack on Israel, negotiations on the proposal for Saudi Arabia to recognise Israel came to a halt. (At the time, it was widely suggested that Hamas had launched the attack in opposition to the proposed agreement.)

3. 2024: The administration of then US President Joe Biden negotiated with Saudi Arabia on a proposal linking nuclear cooperation and security agreements to the establishment of relations with Israel.

4. May 2025: The Trump administration temporarily set aside the requirement that Saudi Arabia recognise Israel in order to advance the agreement, accelerating negotiations between the two countries.

5. 22nd July 2026: The United States and Saudi Arabia signed a 30-year civil nuclear cooperation agreement.

6. 23rd July 2026: Trump clarified that Saudi Arabia’s recognition of Israel would once again be mandatory for the agreement’s final implementation. The agreement will now be sent to the US Congress for review before further action.

Security experts in the United States and Israel express concern

Some politicians and security experts in the United States and Israel have expressed concern over the agreement’s provisions. They argue that, compared with the stringent conditions imposed in the agreement with the United Arab Emirates, the restrictions in the Saudi agreement have been relaxed. They have also warned that the possibility of Saudi Arabia eventually using uranium enrichment capabilities for the development of nuclear weapons cannot be ruled out.