KABUL (Pajhwok): The United States and Saudi Arabia have reached a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement under which US companies will provide nuclear technology to the kingdom.
The US Department of Energy announced on Wednesday and described the agreement as “historic”, saying it includes an accord under Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954, known as a 123 agreement, along with a bilateral safeguards agreement, Al Jazeera reported.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the agreements reflected the two countries’ commitment to expanding commercial ties while maintaining nuclear safety and non-proliferation standards.
“These agreements uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety and nonproliferation, while relying on the world’s best nuclear technology and scientists, designed right here in the United States,” Wright said in a statement.
The Energy Department said the agreement marked a decades-long, multi-billion-dollar partnership that would now be submitted to the US Congress for review.
The department did not disclose whether the agreement would permit Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically. However, several US media reports said the deal could allow the kingdom to enrich uranium instead of importing nuclear fuel from the United States. If confirmed, the provision is expected to face scrutiny in Congress.
The announcement comes as Washington and Riyadh seek to deepen bilateral relations.
The agreement was announced amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The administration of President Donald Trump, together with Israel, launched military action against Iran earlier this year, saying it aimed to prevent Tehran from enriching uranium and developing a nuclear weapon. Iran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear arms.
The United States and Israel also carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last year.
Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), uranium enrichment is not prohibited, although highly enriched uranium can be used in the production of nuclear weapons.
Israel is widely believed to be the only country in the Middle East possessing a nuclear arsenal, although it has neither confirmed nor denied having such weapons.
The US administration said the agreement with Saudi Arabia would create jobs in the United States, strengthen global non-proliferation standards and reinforce the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The announcement also comes as hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran continue, with Iran launching missiles and drones at bases hosting US forces in the region as well as some energy facilities in the Gulf.
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