Saudis must recognise Israel for nuclear deal, says Trump
BBC News 2026-07-23 13:00:38
Context: US President Donald Trump has stated that a landmark nuclear deal between the US and Saudi Arabia is contingent upon Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords, which implies recognising the state of Israel. This development comes amid criticism from experts that the deal could pose a risk of future nuclear proliferation in an already unstable region. The nuclear issue has been a central point of contention in the months-long conflict between the US and Israel with Iran.
Key Facts
- The Civil Nuclear Deal, which pertains only to non-military use and does not involve the enrichment of material, will be approved but is subject to Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, according to US President Donald Trump.
- Trump made these remarks in a post on Truth Social, emphasising that the Abraham Accords are "very respected and successful".
- The Abraham Accords were brokered by Trump in 2020, securing the historic normalisation of relations between Israel and two Arab nations, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain.
- Since then, Sudan and Morocco have also normalised relations with Israel as part of the Accords.
- The nuclear deal has been met with criticism from experts, who argue that it could run the risk of future nuclear proliferation in an already unstable region, particularly given the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran.