Trump says nuclear deal hinges on Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel

There could be a snag in the nuclear agreement between the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that the deal is “subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords,” which would normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

The White House said Trump has discussed the issue with Saudi officials in the past, but it is unclear what specific conversations took place about the condition before or after the nuclear agreement was signed.

Saudi Arabia has previously said normalized relations with Israel would depend on recognition of a Palestinian state. The Trump administration has not endorsed a two-state solution.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was pressed Thursday about the new condition laid out by the president.

“He has said if they don’t join the Abraham Accords, the deal is off,” Leavitt said. “So we’ll continue to have those conversations with our Saudi counterparts moving forward.”

RELATED STORY | US signs new deal to develop civilian nuclear energy for Saudi Arabia

The Energy Department announced the agreement Wednesday, before Trump’s comments were made public on Truth Social.

The administration said the civil nuclear cooperation agreement and a parallel safeguards agreement would give U.S. companies access to Saudi Arabia’s civil nuclear program while helping meet the kingdom’s energy needs and enforcing nuclear nonproliferation standards.

Amid concerns about possible access to nuclear weapons and the broader regional impact, Trump said the agreement would not allow enriched nuclear material and would be limited to nonmilitary purposes.