Trump says Saudi nuclear deal contingent on recognizing Israel

President Donald Trump said Thursday that a nuclear deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia was "totally subject" to Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords recognizing Israel.

Washington brokered the Abraham Accords during Trump's first term to build bridges between Israel and the Arab world.

What did Trump say about the Saudi nuclear deal?

Trump said the deal to establish a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia would be approved, but only once Riyadh joins the Abraham Accords. He made the statement on his Truth Social platform, calling the accords "very respected and successful."

Trump's announcement came a day after the United States and Saudi Arabia announced a landmark deal to establish a civilian nuclear program in the kingdom. Critics fear the agreement could pave the way to uranium enrichment and an atomic arms race in the region.

Why has Saudi Arabia resisted recognizing Israel?

Saudi Arabia engaged in tentative talks on normalizing ties with Israel in 2023, but pulled out abruptly as the Gaza war erupted. The kingdom has said it will not recognize Israel without an independent Palestinian state being established first.

The nuclear deal announcement comes as the United States fights a war with Iran that began largely over concerns about Tehran's nuclear program. That issue remains a key point of contention in now-stalled peace talks between Washington and Tehran.

Which countries have joined the Abraham Accords?

The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco are signatories to the Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic, economic and security ties with Israel.

Sudan, a fourth signatory country, has yet to formalize relations under the agreement. Non-Arab Kazakhstan, which had already recognized Israel, agreed to join the accords last November.