The United States has warned Saudi Arabia that any attempt to establish independent uranium enrichment capabilities would be considered a violation of the nuclear cooperation agreement, known as the "123 Agreement," which would lead to the collapse of the nuclear partnership.
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This warning came from Matthew Napoli, deputy director of the Defense Nonproliferation Office at the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, during a speech at the Carnegie Institution.
Napoli stressed that "Washington requires adherence to strict standards for nuclear non-proliferation as a prerequisite for continued cooperation."
He said: "If Saudi Arabia attempts to build independent enrichment capabilities, it will be violating the terms of the 123 Agreement with the United States, and will jeopardize our cooperation. This is indisputable."
Napoli explained that "the agreement gives the United States exclusive rights and strict oversight of the Saudi nuclear program," noting that "any breach of the comprehensive safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency or the US monitoring mechanisms will immediately lead to the cessation of all forms of nuclear cooperation between Riyadh and Washington."
Trump had concluded the agreement with the Saudi government in late July, allowing American companies to develop the kingdom's nuclear energy infrastructure over a period of 30 years.
The agreement does not require congressional approval to take effect, but it will not become effective until a 90-day period has elapsed , allowing lawmakers time to debate the agreement and take action to block it.
Trump said when announcing the agreement that moving forward would depend on Saudi Arabia joining the "Abraham Accords ," but joining the accords was not part of the nuclear agreement signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.
Earlier, Democratic U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ed Markey introduced a resolution aimed at disrupting the agreement with Saudi Arabia, amid concerns that it did not contain "sufficient safeguards to prevent the use of U.S. technology in the development of nuclear weapons."
The Wall Street Journal had previously indicated that "the agreement allows Saudi Arabia to raise the level of uranium enrichment to 20% after conducting additional studies, a level close to that used for military purposes."