Washington, 3 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): US senators concerned about nuclear proliferation said they have secured a vote on President Donald Trump’s proposed nuclear power agreement with Saudi Arabia, with the vote expected before December 13. Known as a 123 Agreement, the proposal was submitted to Congress in late August, giving senators a 90-day period from its publication in the Senate record on September 14 to review the pact and potentially seek a resolution of disapproval. Senator Jeff Merkley said the Senate would have an opportunity to assess the agreement’s potential impact on nuclear proliferation and the risk of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Merkley said he worked with Democratic Senators Tim Kaine, Ed Markey, Chris Coons and Chris Van Hollen, as well as Republican lawmakers, to secure the vote. Critics have raised concerns that the agreement does not explicitly prevent Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or reprocessing nuclear waste, activities that can provide potential pathways toward developing nuclear weapons. The United Arab Emirates accepted similar restrictions in its 2009 civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said Saudi Arabia does not seek nuclear weapons but has warned that Riyadh could pursue them if Iran develops such weapons. The Trump administration maintains that the proposed agreement contains the nonproliferation measures required under US law. The pact has also prompted questions over whether Saudi Arabia would need to normalize relations with Israel for the agreement to take effect. Trump has said normalization would be required, although congressional aides have indicated that the nuclear agreement itself does not address the issue. US senators from both parties have also called on the Trump administration to declassify and release information related to the agreement, including two classified side letters reached with Riyadh.