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Trump to Reportedly Send Saudi Nuclear Agreement to Congress Without Key Safeguards

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The Trump administration plans to submit to Congress within days a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that omits longstanding US nonproliferation safeguards designed to prevent the diversion of nuclear materials for weapons programs, news outlets reported Tuesday.

The proposed "123 Agreement," named for Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954, is expected to be signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.

It would provide the legal framework for the US government and American companies to cooperate with the country on developing a multibillion-dollar civilian nuclear power industry.

The White House, US State Department, Saudi Ministry of Energy and the US Department of Energy did not immediately respond to requests for comment from.

The New York Times said the deal aims to deepen ties between Washington and Riyadh, recently strained by the conflict with Iran.

It said the Trump administration estimates the deal will inject billions of dollars into the US nuclear industry, particularly benefiting nuclear designer Westinghouse.

The US Congress has the authority to review the agreement and can block it by passing a joint resolution of disapproval within a specific timeframe.

While the agreement likely has strong Republican support, it faces opposition from a bipartisan group of US lawmakers and Israeli officials who fear the country could use a civilian program to develop nuclear weapons, the newspaper said.

One expected sticking point is the omission of the so-called "Gold Standard," under which countries pledge not to enrich uranium or reprocess spent nuclear fuel, activities that can provide pathways to producing nuclear weapons.

The proposal also leaves out the International Atomic Energy Agency's Additional Protocol, which expands the UN nuclear watchdog's authority to inspect undeclared sites and monitor nuclear activities, they said.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said the country would pursue a nuclear weapon if Iran acquired one, while Riyadh has maintained it wants to preserve the right to enrich uranium. The UAE accepted the Gold Standard in its 2009 nuclear agreement with Washington.

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