Israel is reportedly monitoring with concern the advanced discussions between the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia regarding a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, according to Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. Reports suggest that the agreement is no longer tied to normalizing relations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv.
The newspaper noted that Israeli officials view the abandonment of the normalization condition as a negative development. They believe it reduces Israel's leverage in dealing with Saudi Arabia and signifies a decline in its influence on U.S. administration's stances.
According to the report, this move is part of a series of U.S. actions raising concerns in Tel Aviv. These include proceeding with the F-35 aircraft deal with Turkey and what Israel perceives as a U.S. willingness to make concessions in discussions with Iran on issues Israel considers red lines, like Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for regional allies.
In this context, former Israeli National Security Council head Yaakov Nagel expressed opposition to allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium on its soil, considering it a strategic mistake, even within a civilian nuclear program. He did emphasize that reactors for electricity production could be acceptable if nuclear fuel remains under external supervision without local enrichment.
Former Israeli Ambassador Jeremy Issacharoff described the reports as "extremely dangerous" and viewed any U.S. approval for Saudi enrichment facilities, without linking them to normalization with Israel, as a major political setback for Tel Aviv, reflecting diminished influence on Washington's decisions.
These positions emerge following reports from the Associated Press, citing sources, that President Trump agreed to a deal with Saudi Arabia potentially allowing uranium enrichment within a civilian nuclear program, with formal announcement expected soon.
The account is based on published media reports and Israeli and American sources, with no official declaration confirming the details or final terms of the agreement yet.