U.S. reaches deal with Saudis for nuclear energy commercial agreements

Washington — The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have reached a commercial agreement for U.S. companies to run nuclear power for the Saudis on Saudi soil for civilian purposes, a regional official familiar with the agreement told CBS News. 

The agreement is expected to be signed Wednesday at about 1:30 p.m. The commercial deal would have U.S. companies running, not giving, the Saudi government nuclear power on Saudi soil for the nation’s use, for purposes like supporting AI data centers and enabling oil sales. 

The deal may allow the Saudis to enrich their own fuel for nuclear reactors. 

The corporations involved have not yet been disclosed. Although it’s a private-sector deal, Congress would need to be consulted. The Wall Street Journal was first to report the nuclear deal. 

The plan has been in the works for some time. The Biden administration worked toward a civilian nuclear deal with the Saudis as part of a larger normalization of relations with Israel. The plans were delayed by Hamas’ attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

In November 2025, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Arabia’s energy prince signed a joint declaration on the completion of negotiations of a civil nuclear cooperation to bring American nuclear technology to the Saudis.

“Today is a historic day for the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We’ve come together on a deal for civil nuclear cooperation,” Wright said at the time. “Together, with bilateral safeguard agreements, we want to grow our partnership, bring American nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia and keep a firm commitment to nonproliferation.”

The civilian nuclear deal is likely to irritate Iran, Saudi Arabia’s arch rival, which has long insisted on its right as a signatory of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to maintain a civilian nuclear program.