WASHINGTON — Classified intelligence documents reviewed by Congress indicate that Saudi Arabia has kept open the possibility of pursuing nuclear arms while a proposed civilian nuclear pact undergoes a 90-day legislative review in 2026. The findings were part of materials provided to lawmakers examining the bilateral arrangement to broaden civilian nuclear cooperation.

Under the proposed deal, American firms could secure contracts worth tens of billions of dollars for nuclear energy initiatives within the kingdom. Spanning three decades, the arrangement positions US businesses at the core of building Saudi civilian nuclear facilities, effectively limiting opportunities for international rivals.

Initial terms cap uranium enrichment at less than 5%, though provisions exist to raise that threshold to 20% following further analysis and mutual written consent. Enrichment at 20% remains well below the threshold required for weapons production.

Lawmakers have a 90-day window to examine the pact and potentially block it, a procedure mandated by Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act. Because it is not classified as a treaty, the arrangement bypasses the need for a two-thirds Senate vote.

Senator Jeff Merkley argued that Washington should not depend on Riyadh's promises concerning its nuclear ambitions. He asked why the kingdom would want domestic enrichment capabilities if its nuclear activities were purely for peaceful energy generation.

On September 19, 2026, six Democratic senators published a letter rejecting the deal, pointing to past Saudi statements about acquiring nuclear arms as justification. Meanwhile, House Democrats under Rep. Gregory W. Meeks filed a joint resolution of disapproval aimed at stopping the pact.

Three days later, on September 22, 2026, a group of 20 nonproliferation specialists cautioned Congress that current inspection rules might obscure secret weapons development at hidden sites. The pact does not mandate that Saudi Arabia implement the International Atomic Energy Agency's Additional Protocol.

The State Department asserted that Washington "does not and will not support a Saudi nuclear weapon program." Officials characterized the deal as upholding the most robust nonproliferation measures achievable through diplomacy and noted that Riyadh has not yet decided to seek nuclear arms.

Administration officials framed the pact as a way to bolster bilateral relations and deter Saudi Arabia from expanding ties with nations like Russia and China. President Donald Trump insisted that normalizing ties with Israel must precede the nuclear deal, though Riyadh has refused to establish diplomatic relations with Israel as long as Jerusalem opposes a Palestinian state.

Why It Matters

The intelligence findings highlight that Riyadh retains the option of a nuclear weapons path, sparking proliferation worries as lawmakers review the deal. The arrangement involves tens of billions in contracts and places American firms at the center of Saudi nuclear development, sidelining global competitors.

Opponents claim the deal lacks adequate protections, highlighting the absence of the IAEA Additional Protocol and the potential for higher enrichment levels. Proponents argue it reinforces US-Saudi relations and enforces realistic nonproliferation benchmarks, while linking final approval to Israeli normalization.

Timeline

In 2018, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman declared that the kingdom would seek nuclear arms if Iran acquired them. On September 19, 2026, Democratic Senators Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, warning the deal might enable Saudi uranium enrichment and potential weapons development. That same day, six Senate Democrats issued a letter opposing the pact, referencing Saudi threats to build a nuclear weapon.

On September 22, 2026, twenty nuclear nonproliferation experts warned in a letter to Congress that the inspection arrangements could make it difficult to determine whether Saudi Arabia was secretly developing nuclear weapons at undeclared facilities. Abdulaziz bin Salman emphasized the need for "the highest levels of responsibility and transparency."

What's New

Reports note that Washington has never previously handed over an enrichment facility to a nonnuclear state, particularly one whose leadership has voiced interest in acquiring nuclear arms. The 30-year arrangement positions US businesses at the core of building Saudi civilian nuclear facilities, effectively limiting opportunities for international rivals. The legislative review procedure is mandated by Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act.

Six Senate Democrats published a letter rejecting the deal, pointing to past Saudi statements about acquiring nuclear arms as justification. US officials noted that Riyadh has not yet decided to seek nuclear arms.

How Sources Differ

Concerning Saudi nuclear potential, Democratic Senators Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, warning the deal might enable Saudi uranium enrichment and potential weapons development. Conversely, the text of the US-Saudi civilian nuclear cooperation agreement specifies that initial enrichment levels will remain under 5%.