US Drops Israel Normalization Demand in Saudi Nuclear Talks

The United States has ceased requiring Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel as a condition for advancing civil nuclear cooperation talks, marking a significant policy shift ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to Riyadh. This change reflects Saudi Arabia's firm stance against recognizing Israel without a viable path to Palestinian statehood, a position hardened by the ongoing Gaza conflict, which has stalled progress on normalization efforts akin to the Abraham Accords with other Arab states. Despite this concession, a nuclear deal remains elusive primarily due to Saudi reluctance to sign a Section 123 Agreement, which enforces U.S. non-proliferation standards prohibiting uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing; Saudi officials have expressed interest in pursuing uranium enrichment capabilities. Discussions are reportedly exploring alternatives such as a “black box” arrangement where enrichment technology would be controlled exclusively by U.S. personnel on Saudi soil. Some U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Lindsey Graham, oppose any defense agreements with Saudi Arabia absent its recognition of Israel, reflecting ongoing tensions over the policy shift. U.S. officials warn that excluding Israel from broader regional agreements risks diminishing American leverage over Hamas and related actors, underscoring the complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding the negotiations.