Mark Levin flags concerns in Trump's Saudi nuclear negotiations: 'Everyone ok with this?'

WASHINGTON, DC: Conservative commentator and Fox News host Mark Levin, on Friday, June 5, publicly questioned a reported Trump-backed nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, highlighting concerns from lawmakers and policy experts about its potential impact on nonproliferation safeguards.

Levin, on X, shared the article by Jewish Insider where lawmakers and field experts argued that the deal could weaken long-standing nonproliferation standards.

Levin shared the article with a simple “Everyone ok with this?” in the caption.

Proposed nuclear pact sparks safeguards concerns

The report highlighted a proposed civilian nuclear deal reportedly in its final stages that could soon be submitted to Congress. The arrangement would permit the US to share civilian nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia as the kingdom moves forward with its nuclear energy plans.

The proposal has come under scrutiny over concerns that it may not require Saudi Arabia to adopt safeguards that have traditionally been attached to US nuclear agreements, according to critics cited by Jewish Insider.

One of the key sticking points is whether Riyadh would be allowed to enrich uranium on its own soil instead of agreeing to permanently forgo the practice.

Critics fear nuclear deal could spur proliferation

Rep Brad Sherman, a longtime critic of US nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia, also raised concerns about the reported framework. 

“There’s only one reason not to have non-militarization safeguards, and that’s militarization,” Sherman told the outlet.

“The idea that allowing Saudi Arabia to move toward a nuclear weapon defies history,” he added. “A Saudi nuclear weapon leads to worldwide proliferation. Egypt and Turkey would feel that they need to match that, and then where’s Argentina and Brazil going to be?”

Former US special representative for Iran Elliott Abrams argued that civilian nuclear assistance should not extend to technologies that could bring countries closer to producing a nuclear weapon.

“The US should be helping other countries with nuclear power, but should strongly avoid helping them learn the fuel cycle and move closer to being able to build a nuclear weapon,” Abrams told the outlet.