The United States revived talks with Saudi Arabia on the transfer of nuclear technology

Energy Minister Chris Wright said on Sunday that the Trump administration has been reviving talks with Saudi officials on a deal that would give Saudi Arabia to US nuclear technology and may allow it to enrich uranium.

Mr. Wright told reporters in his head that the deal – which was followed by the Biden administration has been pursued as part of a broader agreement for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to establish relations with Israel – will enable the Kingdom to develop the “commercial nuclear energy industry.” He added that he expected to see “meaningful developments” this year.

“We have not reached the details of the agreement, but it seems that there is a way to do this,” he said. “The issue is to control sensitive technology. Are there solutions to that it involves enriching here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? Yes.”

In response to a question about whether the talks are linked to the approval of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to “normalize” diplomatic relations with Israel, Mr. Wright said only that “relations are always the deficiencies of firmness” and that there are many possible areas of cooperation between the two countries.

For years, Saudi Arabia has it Presse on the United States To help him develop a nuclear energy program, where Saudi officials look beyond oil to provide energy and diversify the economy. But the talks about a nuclear partnership that stopped, partly because the Saudi government refused to agree to the conditions aimed at preventing it from developing nuclear weapons or helping other countries to do so.

For example, the decisive adhesive point was whether the kingdom would import or enrich uranium, which can theoretically enable it to produce uranium for use in nuclear weapons.

The deal gained momentum under the Biden administration when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the actual ruler of the Kingdom, offered. Develop diplomatic relations with Israel In exchange for cooperation in building nuclear reactors and other concessions from the United States, including security guarantees. Those talks stumbled after the Israeli war raised Hamas in Gaza, the Middle East, Deepening support For Palestinians and enmity towards Israel throughout the region, including In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Over the years, frustrated Saudi officials have also explored obtaining nuclear technology from other countries, including China and Russia.

“It is very important that the United States will become a partner,” Mr. Wright said on Sunday. “The fact that it may be in doubt indicates that the unproductive relations between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the past few years.”

The deal faces several obstacles. The United States requires countries to meet high standards of non -spread before cooperating in a nuclear program, including in some cases that prohibit uranium enrichment and re -processing fuel in its territory. The agreement should be reviewed by Congress, which can prevent it.

In the past, members of Congress Side of the corridor Ownership The opposition is expressed The agreement, including Marco Rubio, is now the Foreign Minister.

Critics of the deal Say it is risky. Prince Muhammad repeatedly said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia You will develop nuclear weapons If Iran – its regional competitor – is doing.

At the same time, it negotiates with Riyadh, the Trump administration Restart the nuclear talks with Iran In an attempt to contain the growing Tehran nuclear program, after the United States withdrew from a 2015 multilateral agreement at Trump’s first presidency.

Prince Muhammad also prompted a deal that allows local uranium enrichment. He believes that the Kingdom has vast resources of uranium, although the exploration has resulted in “severe non -economic deposits”, according to a report By the International Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Supporters of the deal argue that if the United States is not involved, Saudi Arabia will obtain nuclear technology from a country that requires less guarantees.

Mr. Wright said that the Trump administration officials who visited his leadership had discussions with Saudi officials on energy, mining, critical minerals and climate change. He said that a broader agreement will be signed on increasing cooperation between the two countries to develop energy resources “later.”

Mr. Wright said that US officials did not discuss oil prices or production levels with their Saudi counterparts.

President Trump said he wanted the energy to be cheaper and that he would “do”Ask the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and OPEC to reduce the cost of oil“Oil prices have decreased by about $ 10 a barrel since it imposed a tariff, and then reduced many of them, on American commercial partners around the world.

But the Kingdom needs to increase prices to finance spending plans for Prince Muhammad, including a 600 billion dollars pledged The increase in trade and investment in the United States-an amount equivalent to two-thirds of the entire Saudi sovereign wealth fund.

Mr. Wright, who was a feared executive official before him Date As the Minister of Energy, it reduced any difference in the oil policy between the two countries.

He said: “I see a great agreement here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that the way to make the world better is to produce more energy, not less.”