Trump's Saudi nuclear deal reaches Congress as experts warn of proliferation risk

The U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal, finalized last month, was formally transmitted to Congress on Monday, though it still depends on Saudi Arabia's participation in the Abraham Accords, a senior administration official revealed to ABC News. Two sources also confirm the transmission of the agreement to Congress on Monday. This landmark nuclear agreement, struck under Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, involves the U.S. partnering with Saudi Arabia in developing its civil nuclear energy program.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee have a 90-day review period to examine the proposed deal, which can be halted. The agreement was signed on July 22 by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. However, Trump added a condition last-minute, stating the deal would only proceed if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords, which would normalize relations with Israel—a move Saudi Arabia has vehemently opposed without acknowledging a Palestinian state.

On Tuesday, the administration emphasized Trump's persistent stance, asserting that the nuclear deal will only advance if Saudi Arabia aligns with the Accords. It remains unclear why the administration decided to formally submit the deal's text to Congress now, given that the agreement was finalized over a month ago and Saudi Arabia hasn't explicitly expressed its intention to join the Accords.

The deal permits the U.S. to collaborate on Saudi Arabia's civil nuclear program, though it raises concerns about potential uranium enrichment, a prospect Trump has dismissed as "No enrichment of material!" according to a social media post last month.