Classified documents provided to the US Congress include a US intelligence assessment that Saudi Arabia has not ruled out the option of developing a nuclear weapons program, The Washington Post reported on September 25. The assessment was submitted as part of Congress’s review of the Trump administration’s civilian nuclear pact with Riyadh. Haaretz, citing US officials, reported that Riyadh has not yet made a decision.
The agreement was signed on July 22, 2026, by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. It opens a conditional path to uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia, starting below 5% and potentially rising to 20% after a joint review and written consent. A 90-day congressional review period is underway.
Democratic Senators Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley led a letter from Democratic senators to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on September 25, accusing the administration of “departing from precedent, adopting looser restrictions, and caving to Saudi demands.”
The State Department said the United States “does not and will not support a Saudi nuclear weapon program.” Riyadh did not respond to the newspaper’s questions and instead pointed to an earlier statement by Prince Abdulaziz that the program would be “peaceful” and developed with “the highest levels of responsibility and transparency.” Israeli officials are concerned about enrichment capability on Saudi soil. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in 2018 that Saudi Arabia would follow suit as soon as possible if Iran developed a nuclear bomb.
