Leavitt Says Saudi Nuclear Deal Hinges on Abraham Accords; Ratepayer Protection Pledge Expanded
President Donald Trump will only move forward with a civil nuclear agreement if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday during a press briefing.Leavitt described the deal as a civil nuclear agreement that covers only non-military use and involves no enrichment of material."An important point being made between the Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the... Abraham Accords," Leavitt said, describing the condition President Trump has repeatedly set for approving the agreement.She added Trump wants more Gulf and Arab nations to join the Abraham Accords as part of his broader effort to promote stability across the Middle East."This deal with Saudi Arabia, the energy deal, is contingent on this condition as far as the president is concerned," Leavitt said.She added the administration will continue working with Saudi officials to finalize the agreement, "and hopefully see them [Saudi Arabia] joining the Abraham Accords very soon."Asked why Saudi Arabia could receive a civil nuclear agreement while Iran could not, Leavitt said the proposed agreement would give American companies priority access to Saudi Arabia's nuclear energy program while benefiting US workers and supply chains.Leavitt also highlighted the administration's expansion of the Ratepayer Protection Pledge to governors, state legislatures, developers and power providers involved in building and operating data centers.Leavitt said the expansion aims "... to ensure that everyone involved in building and powering data centers pays their own way instead of passing those costs onto hardworking families."She said almost 200 additional stakeholders have joined the initiative since its launch, expanding its coverage to 80% of the electricity supplied to US homes and businesses.
