US-Saudi 30-year nuclear pact omits IAEA extra monitoring

The United States and Saudi Arabia have formalised a 30-year civilian nuclear agreement that relies on American technology but stops short of adopting the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Additional Protocol. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the framework, which includes bilateral safeguards against non-proliferation. However, the deal leaves open the possibility that the kingdom could eventually enrich uranium on its own soil.

Uranium enrichment is a dual-use technology, capable of producing fuel for power plants or materials for nuclear weapons. A person familiar with the agreement confirmed it does not include the IAEA Additional Protocol, the standard framework that grants inspectors expanded access for verification and monitoring. The absence of this protocol alters the non-proliferation calculus for European capitals, which have long insisted on strict oversight in the Middle East.

The timing of the announcement is particularly stark for European diplomatic strategies. It arrives as the US, alongside Israel, conducts a military campaign against Iran that was partly triggered by Washington's concerns over Tehran's nuclear capabilities. Iran maintains its programme is strictly peaceful. Granting a regional rival similar technological pathways without the maximum international monitoring safeguards undermines the unified Western stance on non-proliferation that European governments have championed.

US officials have moved to dismiss proliferation risks. “The US is not going to reach any agreement with any country in the world that leads to the risk of proliferation,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters while travelling in the Philippines. Wright echoed this sentiment, stating: “Rest assured, 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.”

Beyond security, the pact carries significant commercial weight. “These agreements reflect our two nations’ shared commitment to strengthening US-Saudi commercial relations, delivering prosperity at home and security to our allies abroad,” Wright said. For European energy and engineering firms competing for lucrative contracts in the kingdom's infrastructure transition, the deal signals a decisive American capture of a strategic market.

The agreement now heads to the US Congress for a mandatory review period. Lawmakers from both American parties have historically opposed granting Riyadh enrichment capabilities. While Republican control of both chambers makes it unlikely Congress will block the implementation, European policymakers will be watching closely to see if the final technical details force a recalibration of their own security and energy policies in the region.