Saudi Arabia hasn’t taken nuclear weapons off the table, according to a classified US intelligence assessment that’s now in the hands of Congress, reports the Washington Post. That finding is colliding with President Trump’s new agreement to help Riyadh build a civilian nuclear energy program—a deal that could eventually let the kingdom enrich uranium to nearly 20%, a level that experts say can be relatively quickly upgraded to weapons-grade. The State Department argues the pact includes the strongest safeguards American negotiators can realistically get and insists the US “does not and will not support a Saudi nuclear weapon program.”
Still, Democratic lawmakers and nonproliferation experts are alarmed that Saudi Arabia isn’t required to accept intrusive International Atomic Energy Agency inspections, and they point to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s past pledge to match any Iranian bomb. Opponents also highlight potential financial windfalls for Trump allies, from US nuclear firms to Jared Kushner. A 90-day clock is now running for Congress to try to block the deal; a resolution of disapproval has been introduced, per ABC News. The Post article, which breaks down the terms and political lines being drawn, can be found here.