Trump to approve nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia despite regional proliferation risks

Trump to approve nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia despite regional proliferation risks Submitted by Ayse Betul on Wed, 07/22/2026 - 11:56 By omitting critical inspection safeguards, the deal could provide a pathway for Riyadh to divert civilian technology into a nuclear arsenal, US media report Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, 19 November 2025 (Brendan Smialowski/AFP) Off US President Donald Trump has reportedly approved a 30-year civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia , granting Riyadh access to American reactor technology despite fears that this could trigger a nuclear arms race with Iran , two US news outlets reported on Wednesday. Trump's pending signature on the civil nuclear pact and security agreement will allow the proposal to advance to Congress for formal review, according to both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal . If approved, the deal would pave the way for tens of billions of dollars in profits for American companies tasked with building Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure, while reviving a long-standing debate among US lawmakers over nuclear proliferation risks in the Middle East.