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White House says U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear deal contingent on Saudi joining Abraham Accords
Summary
A White House spokesperson said the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear agreement would be for nonmilitary use and "totally subject" to Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords; reporters pressed why that condition was not announced earlier and whether Saudi leaders were considering it.
During the briefing, Caroline said a presidential statement on a proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear agreement makes the deal contingent on Saudi accession to the Abraham Accords. "The civil nuclear deal...will be approved but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords," she read and said the president has raised that condition repeatedly.
Reporters asked why the condition had not been mentioned when the energy secretary described the deal. Caroline replied that the president is the "final deal maker" and that he has discussed the condition on multiple occasions; she declined to provide further specifics about the negotiations and said the administration will continue conversations with Saudi counterparts.
Follow-up questions asked whether the Saudis had signaled willingness to accept the condition and whether the provision was requested by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Caroline said she was not aware of Netanyahu requesting it and reiterated the president's longstanding desire to expand the Abraham Accords.
Caroline declined to comment on whether the agreement would exempt Saudi facilities from international inspections, saying she would not get into deal specifics while conversations continue. The administration framed the condition as a diplomatic prerequisite, and briefing responses indicated the matter remains under negotiation.
