Opponents of Trump’s deal are unlikely to defeat itpublished at 18:40 BST
Sarah Smith
North America editor
Image source, ReutersThe nuclear deal is a commercial agreement for US companies to run nuclear power plants in Saudi Arabia rather than giving the technology to the country.
A nuclear deal of this kind has been under discussion for years. It was envisaged as part of a wider agreement that would include Saudi diplomatic recognition of Israel.
But, according to reports, US President Donald Trump has not made that a condition of the deal. Instead, he has reportedly agreed that Saudi Arabia may be allowed to enrich uranium on their own soil, as well as accepting terms that could limit international inspectors from accessing nuclear sites in the country.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on a visit to the Philippines, addressed concerns about the deal.
“Suffice it to say, the US is not going to reach any agreement with any country in the world that leads to the risk of proliferation,” he said.
A similar deal with the United Arab Emirates, in 2009, was much more restrictive with stringent inspections and no right to produce its own nuclear fuel.
The highly controversial agreement will need to be debated in congress but opponents are unlikely to be able to gather enough votes to defeat President Trump’s initiative.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, has said that he would seek to build nuclear weapons if Iran does so.
