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Senate Vote Looms on Trump's Saudi Nuclear Power Pact

By Drooid · Oct 3, 2026, 6:29 AM UTC · How we work

Core Event: Senate Vote Expected Before Dec 13

On October 2, senators announced they have secured a vote on President Donald Trump’s proposed 123 nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, targeting a decision by December 13. The agreement was submitted to Congress in late August, and the Senate’s 90-day review window began with its printing in the Senate record on September 14.

The deal would enable civilian nuclear cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Unlike the United Arab Emirates’ 2009 civil nuclear agreement, the Saudi pact does not require the kingdom to forgo uranium enrichment or reprocessing—measures identified by non-proliferation experts as the “gold standard.” Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said Saudi Arabia would develop nuclear weapons only if Iran acquires them. The Trump administration maintains the pact contains required non-proliferation safeguards, though it does not link the agreement to any normalization of relations with Israel.

Merkley noted bipartisan cooperation with Senators Tim Kaine, Ed Markey, Chris Coons and Chris Van Hollen to secure the vote.

President Donald Trump responded to questions about Iran’s nuclear status by saying the pact “should help” prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, adding that regional shipping disruptions have driven up fuel prices and inflation, affecting U.S. consumers.

“The Senate will now have a chance to fulfill its statutory responsibility to study and weigh in on the impact this agreement could have in driving a nuclear arms race in theMiddle Eastand potentially undermining nuclear nonproliferation efforts around the world,” — Senator Jeff Merkley