US Gives Saudi Arabia Preliminary Green Light to Enrich Uranium Without Nuclear Safeguards

The Trump administration has tentatively agreed to allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium a move that, in its current form, lacks any international safeguards to prevent the kingdom from developing nuclear weapons, CNN revealed citing documents and insiders.

A Quiet Deal Taking Shape in Washington

The Trump administration has given Saudi Arabia a preliminary nod to enrich uranium on its own soil and the agreement, as it currently stands, carries no international safety measures to block the potential development of nuclear weapons. This is what CNN reported on July 18, citing internal documents and sources close to the matter.

“The Trump administration has tentatively agreed to allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium without international safeguards aimed at preventing the development of nuclear weapons,” CNN stated in its report.

The ‘123 Agreement’: What It Means

The deal in question falls under what is known as a “Section 123 Agreement” a framework under US law that governs civilian nuclear cooperation between Washington and foreign governments. Under this arrangement, American companies or the US government could transfer nuclear materials and technologies to Riyadh. The agreement still awaiting Trump’s signature would give Saudi Arabia significant access to nuclear know-how, while crucially not requiring Riyadh to commit to non-weaponisation guarantees.

Months of Waiting And Still No Signature

Negotiations on the deal reportedly wrapped up back in October 2025 yet the agreement has not moved forward for months. The draft still awaits Trump’s final signature and has not been submitted to Congress for formal review. Sources told CNN that the delay is partly linked to the ongoing conflict across the Middle East, which has made the political environment around such a deal particularly sensitive.

Congress Wary : Fear of a Backlash

Members of Congress also believe the delay may reflect another concern entirely that the deal, if formally presented, risks being blocked by American legislators. Opposition within Capitol Hill to nuclear technology transfers without airtight non-proliferation conditions has been building steadily. Sending the agreement to Congress without ironclad safeguards could trigger a serious political battle for the White House.