Senators Launch Legislative Bid to Halt Saudi Nuclear Pact

The senators introduced a joint resolution of disapproval under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act, initiating a 90-day congressional review period. A Senate vote is scheduled for after November 29, though the measure faces a steep climb, requiring veto-proof majorities in both chambers of Congress to successfully halt the executive agreement.

At the core of the opposition is the absence of a so-called gold standard provision. Markey and Merkley argue that the current proposal fails to explicitly bar Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or reprocessing spent fuel. Furthermore, the agreement lacks requirements for rigorous, independent inspections by International Atomic Energy Agency officials, a gap the senators claim could allow a civilian energy program to mask a covert weapons development effort. Markey characterized the initiative as a potential catalyst for a regional arms race, warning that the deal prioritizes megatons over energy output.