Trump submits Saudi nuclear pact to Congress with Israel condition

President Donald Trump has submitted a landmark 30-year civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress for review, while maintaining his demand that Riyadh normalize relations with Israel before the deal can be finalized. The classified pact was sent to Capitol Hill on August 25, 2026, initiating a legally required congressional review period.

The agreement was signed in Washington on July 22, 2026, by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. The Department of Energy described it at the time as a decades-long, multibillion-dollar partnership that would give American companies a major role in developing Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear industry. However, the following day, Trump unexpectedly announced that Saudi recognition of Israel would be required for the agreement to proceed. "The Civil Nuclear Deal will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords," Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time.

A U.S. administration official confirmed that the president's position has not changed. "The agreement will only move forward if Saudi Arabia joins the...