US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that any civil nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia would require the Saudis to prior to anything else recognise Israel under the Abraham Accords. The statement undermines reports from earlier this month that the questions were handled as separate questions in recent months. Trump made the demand in public comments during a media briefing.
The proposed nuclear agreement had been a priority for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of his wider economic diversification plans. Saudi officials had not immediately responded to the fresh US position.