Trump approves nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia

US President Donald Trump has formally approved an agreement with Saudi Arabia that will provide it with a civilian nuclear program and potentially open the door to uranium enrichment in the Kingdom, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

The new deal would last 30 years and is designed to give US companies “a central role in developing Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure.”

“A key provision of the new accord would have American companies build a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia if a joint US-Saudi study determines such a step would be warranted,” the WSJ report said.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the Trump administration plans to submit to Congress a pact with Saudi Arabia to share nuclear power technology.

The administration will reportedly submit to Congress within days a document known as a 123 Agreement that will be signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.

For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

The two signed a preliminary agreement in Riyadh last year.

The agreement refers to Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and is required to permit the US government and American companies to work with entities in the Kingdom to develop a multibillion-dollar civil nuclear industry.

With Reuters

Read more: US reaffirms support for Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks