House Democrats Seek to Block Trump-Saudi Nuclear Deal

Four House Democrats introduced a resolution seeking to block President Donald Trump’s proposed civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, which entered a 90-day congressional review after being submitted in August. They argue the pact does not explicitly prohibit Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or reprocessing spent nuclear fuel and lacks stronger International Atomic Energy Agency inspection requirements. Critics say those omissions depart from the restrictions imposed on the United Arab Emirates and could create pathways toward nuclear-weapons development, particularly amid regional tensions and Saudi statements about pursuing a weapon if Iran obtains one. The agreement includes studies on the feasibility of uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia, while the Trump administration says it contains the nonproliferation safeguards required by law. Bipartisan senators have also urged the administration to release two classified side letters accompanying the agreement so Congress and the public can assess the commitments involved.