Trump says ‘it’s time’ for Saudi Arabia to normalise ties with Israel - Al Jazeera

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing AFP, AP and Reuters, reported that US President Donald Trump has again said a proposed civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia will not proceed unless Riyadh normalises relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. Speaking on Friday, July 24, 2026, Trump rejected the suggestion that the US Department of Energy had moved ahead of him by announcing the agreement earlier in the week without that condition, saying the requirement was understood by the parties involved.

Washington and Riyadh signed the nuclear cooperation deal on Wednesday, according to the report. The Trump administration had initially presented it as a major, long-term commercial and strategic partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and said it would be sent to Congress for review. Energy Secretary Chris Wright described the agreement as supporting bilateral commercial ties and security interests, while Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy said it would help diversify energy sources and expand technology and investment cooperation.

The Israel condition adds a major diplomatic obstacle. Saudi Arabia has not responded to Trump’s latest comments, Al Jazeera reported, but Riyadh has previously maintained that it will not establish formal relations with Israel without a credible path to Palestinian statehood. Israel’s current government opposes Palestinian statehood, making the issue central to any potential Saudi entry into the Abraham Accords.

The deal also carries nuclear nonproliferation sensitivities. Al Jazeera reported that the full text has not been released, and some US media had suggested it could allow domestic uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia. Trump later said there would be no enrichment, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said US contractors would manage the project in a way that allows Washington to monitor it. Westinghouse is expected to be a major contractor.