Trump links Saudi nuclear deal to normalization with Israel

U.S. President Donald Trump said a new civilian nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia will depend on the kingdom normalizing relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords. Saudi officials have previously said any such step would need progress toward Palestinian statehood. The agreement, announced this week by Washington and Riyadh, would allow Saudi Arabia access to U.S. nuclear technology and could involve American companies in building reactors. Details of the pact have not been made public, and it still faces a review process in Congress. The deal has raised nonproliferation concerns because of questions over uranium enrichment and the scope of international safeguards. Experts and some lawmakers worry the agreement may not include enough monitoring measures to prevent the program from being used to develop weaponsrelated capabilities. The announcement comes as the Trump administration continues to push for broader regional normalization with Israel, while Saudi Arabia weighs its strategic ties with Washington against its longstanding position on the Palestinian issue.