A landmark civil nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia has entered uncertain territory just one day after it was signed, following US President Donald Trump's decision to halt its implementation until Riyadh establishes diplomatic relations with Israel.

The agreement, signed in Washington after nearly two decades of negotiations, was initially viewed as a major breakthrough in US-Saudi strategic ties. However, within 24 hours of the signing ceremony, Trump announced new conditions that could significantly delay or even derail the deal.

According to the US President, Saudi Arabia must join the Abraham Accords and formally recognize Israel before the nuclear cooperation agreement can move forward. Trump also reaffirmed that Washington would not allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium on its own territory, citing concerns over nuclear weapons proliferation.

Trump Adds New Conditions

The civil nuclear agreement was signed in the presence of US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and was expected to strengthen cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy, including reactor development, technology transfer, and energy diversification.

Soon after the signing, however, Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that Saudi Arabia's participation in the Abraham Accords was essential for implementing the agreement.

He argued that expanding diplomatic recognition of Israel would reinforce regional stability and strengthen the US-led strategic alliance in West Asia.

The President also emphasized that while America supports Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear ambitions, uranium enrichment within the kingdom would not be permitted because the technology could potentially be diverted for military purposes.

Reports Suggest Internal Disagreement

Several media reports indicate that the White House was not fully aligned on the timing of the agreement's announcement.

According to reports, Trump was reportedly unhappy after Energy Secretary Chris Wright publicly announced the deal before receiving what the President considered final political clearance.

The situation reportedly became more complicated after criticism emerged from conservative media outlets, including Fox News and The Wall Street Journal, questioning the safeguards included in the agreement.

Reports suggest the White House had instructed the Department of Energy to delay the public announcement. However, the department proceeded with the signing ceremony and informed the media, leading to speculation about differences within the administration.

The White House has denied any internal conflict, maintaining that linking the agreement with Saudi-Israel normalization has always been part of Trump's broader Middle East strategy.

Saudi Arabia Reportedly Surprised

According to CNN, Saudi officials were caught off guard by Trump's latest announcement.

Negotiators had reportedly finalized a draft framework that would allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium under strict international supervision.

Trump's public rejection of uranium enrichment therefore came as an unexpected development for Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia has consistently argued that it requires a complete civilian nuclear fuel cycle to meet its long-term energy and economic diversification goals under Vision 2030.

However, Washington has traditionally opposed allowing countries in the region to develop domestic uranium enrichment capabilities due to concerns about future military applications.

Why Uranium Enrichment Matters

Uranium enrichment is a critical step in producing fuel for civilian nuclear power plants.

When uranium is enriched to relatively low levels, it is used to generate electricity. However, if enrichment reaches much higher concentrations, the same technology can potentially be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.

Because of this dual-use nature, uranium enrichment remains one of the world's most sensitive nuclear technologies.

The United States has historically restricted such capabilities even among close allies, preferring that nuclear fuel be supplied through international arrangements rather than produced domestically.

Trump reiterated that Saudi Arabia would receive US assistance for peaceful nuclear energy but would not be allowed to independently enrich uranium.

Abraham Accords Become Central Issue

Trump's latest decision places renewed attention on the Abraham Accords, the US-brokered diplomatic initiative launched in 2020 that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.

Successive US administrations have viewed Saudi Arabia as the most significant potential addition to the accords because of its influence across the Arab and Islamic worlds.

However, Riyadh has repeatedly maintained that it will not establish formal diplomatic ties with Israel unless meaningful progress is achieved toward creating an independent Palestinian state.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has further complicated normalization efforts, making Trump's new condition politically sensitive for Saudi leadership.

Strategic Implications

The uncertainty surrounding the agreement carries broader geopolitical implications.

Supporters of the deal argue that continued US involvement would keep Saudi Arabia within the Western nuclear framework while ensuring strict international oversight.

Critics warn that if Washington ultimately abandons the agreement, Saudi Arabia could seek alternative nuclear partnerships with countries such as China or Russia, potentially expanding their strategic influence across West Asia.

For now, the future of the agreement remains uncertain as diplomatic negotiations continue between Washington and Riyadh.

Whether both sides can bridge differences over Israel and uranium enrichment will determine if one of the region's most significant nuclear cooperation agreements eventually comes into force or becomes another casualty of the complex politics shaping the Middle East.

EU Warns US-Iran Tensions Trapped in Dangerous Zone Between War and Peace

The United States carried out fresh military strikes on an Iranian site near the strategic port city of Bandar Abbas early Thursday, escalating tensions in the fragile US-Iran ceasefire. US Central Command confirmed the action, saying its forces downed four Iranian attack drones and hit a ground control station preparing to launch another.

Iranian media reported explosions east of Bandar Abbas, close to the Strait of Hormuz, though local authorities said there were no immediate casualties or major damage. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it responded by targeting an “American airbase,” according to semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Strikes Follow Drone Threats

The US operation marked the second strike this week on Iranian targets. CENTCOM described the drones as posing a direct threat to maritime traffic around the critical chokepoint. Iranian sources, meanwhile, linked the incident to an alleged confrontation involving a US tanker attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz without coordination.

Shipping data from LSEG and Kpler showed three large tankers — two supertankers and one LNG carrier — had passed through the strait earlier in the week with transponders switched off, heading toward India and China. Oil prices reacted sharply, with Brent crude climbing above $95 per barrel amid fresh uncertainty.

EU Sounds Alarm on Fragile Peace

In Cyprus, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed deep concern over the flare-up. Speaking to reporters at a meeting of EU foreign ministers, she said the US and Iran were caught in a “very dangerous zone” between war and peace.

“They are right now in between this very dangerous zone of war and peace, and it is not in anybody’s interest that this war continues,” Kallas said. Her remarks came as both sides traded accusations despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Trump Administration’s Stance

US President Donald Trump convened a cabinet meeting at the White House to discuss the situation. He has repeatedly linked any potential deal with Iran to broader regional normalisation, including expansion of the Abraham Accords to more countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that Washington seeks a diplomatic path but will not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

Iranian officials, including Deputy Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Bagheri Kani, demanded the unconditional release of frozen Iranian assets, calling it the “legal right” of the Iranian people.

Energy Markets and Global Ripple Effects

The renewed hostilities are already reshaping global energy strategies. International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol noted that the conflict has forced countries to seek alternative supply routes and bolster domestic production, warning of the biggest energy security crisis in decades.

In Asia, stock markets opened lower while oil futures surged. Traders remain wary as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a vital artery for global crude — stays severely limited compared to pre-conflict levels.

Regional Fallout Widens

The US-Iran exchanges come amid continued Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon, with fresh strikes reported in Tyre and Nabatieh, and new displacement orders issued by the Israeli army. However, the latest developments around Bandar Abbas have shifted immediate international focus back to the Gulf.

Local residents in Bandar Abbas reported hearing loud explosions in the morning, with Iranian air defence systems briefly activated. Iranian state media described the situation as under control.

What Lies Ahead

Diplomatic channels between the US and Iran remain active, though both sides appear locked in a tense standoff. Analysts say any sustained ceasefire will require significant concessions on sanctions, nuclear issues, and regional proxy conflicts.

For now, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters remains highly volatile, with implications stretching far beyond the Middle East — affecting energy prices, shipping safety, and global economic stability.

Islamabad says its stance on the Middle East issue remains non-negotiable despite fresh calls from Washington linking normalisation to regional peace talks.

In a sharp diplomatic pushback, Pakistan has firmly rejected US President Donald Trump’s latest appeal to normalise relations with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords. Defending the country’s traditional foreign policy, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated that Islamabad cannot compromise on its foundational principles for short-term strategic gains.

The developments unfolded on Monday after Trump outlined a major diplomatic push on social media, linking ongoing US-Iran peace negotiations to a broader Middle East settlement. In a lengthy public statement, Trump explicitly named Pakistan alongside heavyweights like Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, urging them to simultaneously sign the accords to secure a wider regional alignment.

Reacting swiftly to the proposal during a late-night television interview, Asif made it clear that joining such an arrangement is out of the question. “Personally, I don't think we should join any such accord that clashes with our fundamental ideologies,” the Defence Minister told Samaa TV.

Core ideology non-negotiable

The strongly worded rejection from Islamabad underlines the domestic and political sensitivities that govern Pakistan’s approach to the Middle East. Officials in the foreign ministry indicated that the state's official position has remained consistent for the past 78 years, anchoring any potential recognition of Israel to the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Asif also took aim at the diplomatic credibility of the Israeli leadership, questioning how any sovereign nation could engage in structured negotiations under the current global climate. “How will you sit down with those people whose word cannot be trusted even for a single day?” he asked, highlighting deep-seated skepticism over ongoing ceasefire violations in Gaza.

Passport policy stands out

To drive home the point, the Defence Minister pointed toward a unique domestic legal barrier that defines the state’s absolute isolation from Tel Aviv. He reminded the public that the country’s travel documents are intentionally designed to restrict access, calling it an institutional proof of Pakistan's refusal to recognise Israel.

“On our passports, we are the only country whose passports don't even include Israel's name,” Asif noted, referencing the explicit inscription stating the document is valid for all countries except Israel.

Trump’s wider alliance blueprint

The push from Washington appears to be part of a broader, unconventional blueprint curated by the Trump administration to establish a massive US-backed alliance in West Asia. According to diplomatic sources, Trump is attempting to capitalise on the current momentum of negotiations with Iran to pull multiple Muslim-majority states into the Abraham Accords framework.

Trump described the ongoing talks with Tehran as "proceeding nicely" but added a stark warning that failure to secure an all-encompassing deal would mean a return to active hostilities. He argued that the 2020 accords, which initially brought the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco into formal diplomatic terms with Israel, have triggered an economic and social boom that other regional players should look to replicate.

Economic and domestic tightrope

For the current ruling coalition in Islamabad, balancing Washington's expectations against severe domestic pushback remains an incredibly delicate tightrope walk. Observers note that while Pakistan relies heavily on international financial systems and trade ties with the West, any overt softening towards Israel carries extreme domestic political risks capable of triggering widespread public unrest.

Furthermore, the situation is complicated by the evolving stances of major Gulf monarchies. With key regional allies like Saudi Arabia also being intensely courted by the US for normalisation pacts, Islamabad faces the challenging prospect of maintaining its traditional stance while navigating its deep economic dependency on financial assistance and remittances from the Gulf region.

No policy shift ahead

Despite the mounting pressure, senior officials in Islamabad insist that participation in multilateral humanitarian forums should not be misconstrued as a diplomatic shift. Earlier this year, when questions were raised regarding Pakistani representatives attending a Gaza-related peace board meeting, the Foreign Ministry had issued a similar clarification denying any backchannel movement toward the Abraham Accords.

For now, the government maintains that its position remains absolute, leaving little room for the diplomatic expansion Trump envisioned in his latest regional peace outline.