US Intelligence Points to Saudi Nuclear Ambitions Amid Congressional Scrutiny
US intelligence suggests Saudi Arabia has not ruled out nuclear weapons development, fueling congressional concerns over President Trump's civilian nuclear agreement with Riyadh.
US intelligence assessments indicate that Saudi Arabia has not ruled out the possibility of developing nuclear weapons, according to officials who spoke with The Washington Post on Friday. The findings have heightened concerns among several US lawmakers regarding President Donald Trump's agreement to assist Saudi Arabia in establishing a civilian nuclear program. Lawmakers fear this could pave the way for a nuclear weapons program and trigger a Middle East arms race.
Multi-Billion Dollar Deal and Arms Race Concerns
The nuclear agreement signed between Washington and Riyadh empowers US businesses to launch civilian nuclear energy projects in Saudi Arabia worth tens of billions of dollars. The US administration hopes the move will strengthen ties between the US and Saudi Arabia while undercutting cooperation between the kingdom and US rivals like Russia and China. When announcing the deal in July, the Trump administration stated it would advance regional security by maintaining high standards of nuclear safety, security, and non-proliferation.
However, a growing number of Democratic lawmakers express concern that the deal paves the way for uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia to levels nearing 20 percent, raising risks that nuclear material could be diverted for military purposes. Congress currently faces a 90-day review period, during which lawmakers may pass legislation to block the agreement if they can muster sufficient support.
"Through this deal, the Trump administration is deviating from established precedent, adopting more lenient restrictions, and caving to Saudi demands," wrote a group of Democratic senators led by Senators Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
State Department Confidence and Lawmaker Skepticism
According to officials speaking on condition of anonymity, the US State Department expressed strong confidence in the security mechanisms and safeguards provided by the Saudi government within the classified documents submitted to Congress last month. Merkley told The Washington Post that the US should not simply take Saudi assurances at face value, pointing out that domestic uranium enrichment capabilities indicate ambitions beyond strictly civilian applications.
Critics also note that the agreement does not initially compel Saudi Arabia to adopt the Additional Protocol required by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which would grant inspectors extensive access to the country's nuclear fuel cycle and research facilities. While the initial agreement limits enrichment to under 5 percent, subsequent written agreements could allow levels to rise to 20 percent, bringing enriched material closer to weapons-grade thresholds.
