The U.S. Has Rules for Nuclear Deals With Other Countries. Here’s How They Work.
The Trump administration is expected to announce an agreement with Saudi Arabia on a civilian nuclear program. Such deals, known as 123 Agreements, are designed to prevent the development of weapons.
The Trump administration is expected to announce an agreement with Saudi Arabia on a civilian nuclear program, according to a monitored public feed from the New York Times World. The reported deal would fall under a framework known as a “123 Agreement,” the U.S. mechanism used for nuclear cooperation with other countries.
These agreements are intended to set limits on how nuclear technology and materials can be used once shared. Their purpose is to help ensure that civilian nuclear cooperation does not become a path toward weapons development. In practice, they spell out conditions meant to guard against the diversion of nuclear capabilities from peaceful uses.
The feed summary did not provide details on the specific terms of the expected Saudi arrangement, and it was not clear from the available information how far the talks have advanced or what safeguards may be included. Still, the reference to a 123 Agreement signals that any deal would be shaped by long-standing U.S. rules governing nuclear partnerships with foreign governments.
Such agreements are named for Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act. They are a standard legal requirement for civilian nuclear cooperation and are designed to put limits around the transfer of nuclear material, equipment and information. They are central to U.S. efforts to balance international energy cooperation with nonproliferation concerns.
The reported Saudi deal comes at a time when nuclear policy and regional security remain closely linked in Washington. Any agreement involving a major Middle Eastern power is likely to draw attention because of the broader debate over how to support civilian nuclear energy while reducing the risk that the same technology could be used for military purposes.
This article is based on a monitored public feed and summarizes the available report from the New York Times World. Source attribution: New York Times World.
Source: New York Times World - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/world/middleeast/the-us-has-rules-for-nuclear-deals-with-other-countries-heres-how-they-work.html
