Trump signs deal to develop Saudi Arabia nuclear programme | BBC News

The US and Saudi Arabia have announce a deal allowing the Gulf kingdom to develop a civil nuclear programme.

The agreement is likely to hand billions of dollars to US companies, to build facilities to produce the enriched uranium used as fuel for power plants, but which can also be used to make nuclear bombs.

Some nuclear experts, along with officials in Israel, have warned that the plan could ultimately lead to Saudi Arabia developing a nuclear weapon.

It’s understood that the deal allows US companies to develop and manage nuclear power facilities in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia, along with Israel, is one of the closest allies of the US in the Middle East. The deal will raise concerns over nuclear proliferation in a highly unstable region beset by conflict.

The US and Israel have justified their war with Iran as necessary to prevent it developing nuclear weapons, something that Tehran denies planning to do.

Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Sarah Smith in Washington.

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