By Michael R. Gordon and Robbie Gramer

President Trump has submitted a landmark nuclear accord with Saudi Arabia to Congress for review, but hasn't dropped his last minute condition that the kingdom normalize relations with Israel, an administration official said.

The move is expected to trigger months of intensive debate among lawmakers about how to boost the American nuclear industry while curbing the spread of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.

When Trump officials announced the 30-year accord last month they said then that it would give U.S. companies a central role in developing Saudi Arabia's nuclear infrastructure while excluding foreign competition.

But the deal has proved to be controversial because it would potentially open the door for uranium enrichment to take place on Saudi territory.

Under U.S. law, the agreement must be submitted to Congress for review. The deal was transmitted to lawmakers on Monday and will be difficult for them to block. Doing so would require a joint resolution and a two-thirds majority vote to override a potential presidential veto.

The Saudi embassy in the U.S. didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Saudi officials have argued that the kingdom needs to develop a civilian nuclear industry, which would draw on uranium ore deposits the Saudis say they want to exploit to meet domestic energy needs. That, they say, would free up more of its oil production for export and boost revenues.

As part of the deal, U.S. and Saudi officials would conduct a two-year study to determine the commercial viability of American companies building a uranium enrichment facility in the kingdom.

If that study determines that indigenous enrichment is warranted, American companies would build the facility under an arrangement that would preclude sharing sensitive technology with the Saudis.

But while Trump administration officials say the American role would ensure that the nuclear program remains peaceful, critics argue that it will encourage the spread of nuclear technology in the volatile Middle East.

"Congress should oppose an agreement that opens the door to uranium enrichment on Saudi soil-even in a U.S.-operated plant-because it would end several decades of U.S. nonproliferation policy aimed at preventing the spread of sensitive nuclear fuel-making technology," Andrea Stricker of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies think tank said.

Trump's political requirement that Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords has introduced a fresh obstacle for implementing the nuclear agreement. Trump announced that condition last month after the deal was negotiated and signed and is sticking by it.

"The President's position has not changed that the agreement will only move forward if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords," an administration official said.

The 2020 accords were brokered by the U.S. and signed by the U.S., Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Saudi Arabia appeared to be moving close to normalizing relations with Israel during the Biden administration as part of a megadeal that would have included a U.S. defense pact and cooperation on a civilian nuclear program.

But following Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel and the Israeli military's subsequent campaign in Gaza, Saudi Arabia pulled back.

Write to Michael R. Gordon at michael.gordon@wsj.com and Robbie Gramer at robbie.gramer@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 25, 2026 19:02 ET (23:02 GMT)