Coveted U.S. Nuclear Deal is a Coup for Saudi Crown Prince

A long-sought U.S. nuclear cooperation deal is expected to be signed by Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, deepening ties with the United States amid war and uncertainty across the Middle East. The reported civilian agreement could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium on its own soil, a step that would be framed as a major win for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The piece says the crown prince has pursued such an accord for more than five years, contending with opposition from U.S. officials and outside experts. Their concern, according to the report, is that the Gulf state could use the technology to pursue a nuclear weapon, potentially triggering a new arms race in the Persian Gulf. The development would therefore carry both diplomatic and security implications for the region.