President Donald Trump said Thursday that a civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia is conditional on the kingdom normalizing relations with Israel. The statement came during a press conference at the White House, according to Reuters.
Trump's remarks follow the announcement of a preliminary U.S.-Saudi framework for nuclear energy cooperation, which was reported late Wednesday. The president emphasized that any deal must include recognition of Israel by Riyadh, a position consistent with the Abraham Accords brokered by his administration in 2020.
Saudi Arabia has not officially recognized Israel, though there have been reports of behind-the-scenes discussions. The kingdom has previously stated that normalization would require progress on a Palestinian state. No formal agreement has been signed as of July 24, 2026.
