Saudi Arabia may have uranium enrichment under proposed deal with US, arms control experts warn
- Feb 20
- 2 min read
A proposed nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia could allow the kingdom to develop uranium enrichment capabilities on its own territory, according to documents reviewed by lawmakers and warnings from nuclear nonproliferation experts.
Under the draft deal, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia would enter into a safeguard arrangement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog. The agreement could include oversight of key parts of a nuclear fuel cycle, such as enrichment, fuel fabrication and reprocessing. These areas are considered highly sensitive because they can be pathways toward developing nuclear weapons if not strictly limited.
Experts say that while uranium enrichment for peaceful energy purposes is not itself a weapons program, allowing Saudi Arabia to spin centrifuges and gain knowledge of enrichment technology could put the kingdom closer to the technical means of producing weapons-grade material. Saudi leaders have previously indicated that they might pursue a nuclear weapon if regional rival Iran were to develop one.
The proposed agreement is part of a broader effort by U.S. administrations to expand nuclear energy partnerships and strengthen U.S. influence in the global nuclear market. However, critics argue that the draft lacks traditional nonproliferation guardrails that would bar Saudi Arabia from sensitive nuclear activities and that this could weaken long-standing global norms aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
The draft deal is currently under review by the U.S. Congress, which has the ability to block it or demand additional safeguards. The discussions occur against a backdrop of ongoing regional tensions and evolving dynamics around nuclear capability in the Middle East.
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