On Saturday, July 26th, 2026, the White House announced a new nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia aimed at supporting the development of a civilian nuclear energy program through U.S. technology and expertise, according to the Department of Energy.

The agreement includes safeguards designed to prevent the diversion of nuclear materials for weapons development. However, lawmakers reacted with notable division.

Democrats voiced concerns that allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium without strict safeguards could trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) stated, "The president says what we're trying to do is to stop Iran from having a nuclear weapon, but if Saudi Arabia … does not meet all the protocols, etc., then it could cause an arms race where Egyptians or others in the area want a nuclear weapon."

Republicans highlighted the necessity of regional alliances. Mark Alford (R-Miss.) emphasized Congress's role in reviewing any final agreement and the importance of Saudi Arabia as a partner, saying, "I think it's important with any agreement like that that Congress have a role in that and I look forward to reviewing that."

Another lawmaker remarked, "I don't trust anybody as far as I can throw them, but we've got to develop allies," adding, "And as long as we can verify them, we have the people there that can verify that they're using them for the proper uses, then we’re okay."

Experts also noted that the Iran nuclear deal depends on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to long-blocked atomic weapon sites.

Sources