IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said on Monday that Saudi Arabia is preparing to grant more intrusive powers to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), although it does not plan to sign the Additional Protocol which grants sweeping inspection powers. The planned U.S.-Saudi atomic deal includes provisions for additional verification and monitoring authorisations in relation to sensitive activities such as uranium enrichment, conversion, and reprocessing. These authorisations will be similar to those found in an Additional Protocol but without further elaboration from Grossi. The bilateral agreement between the IAEA and Saudi Arabia will be presented to the IAEA's Board of Governors once finalized.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The US and Saudi Arabia have reached an agreement on civil nuclear power cooperation, which would allow Riyadh to enrich uranium and build nuclear reactors using US technology. The deal was announced by the White House on July 22. However, critics, including non-proliferation groups such as the Arms Control Association, have voiced concerns that the agreement does not include the Additional Protocol, which grants the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) extra powers to conduct snap inspections at undeclared locations.
The IAEA's chief, Rafael Grossi, said in a recent statement that while the Additional Protocol would be the "ideal setup", Saudi Arabia is preparing to grant the agency more intrusive powers. Specifically, Riyadh will introduce provisions into the bilateral agreement that will give the IAEA additional verification and monitoring authorizations.
This deal has been criticized for potentially undermining decades of US policy aimed at preventing nuclear proliferation in dangerous parts of the world. Some experts also argue that Saudi Arabia's leverage and influence as a net energy exporter and custodian of Islam's holiest sites and cities should be used to its advantage, rather than relying on US technology. Congress is now urging the administration to make the classified agreement public and put essential safeguards in place.
The deal with Saudi Arabia was reached at the same time that China is increasing its own influence in the region. Grossi noted that while Riyadh's move to grant more powers to the IAEA is a step in the right direction, it is still not as comprehensive as the Additional Protocol.
Written for “US Saudi Nuclear Deal” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score withheld for article 6729: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-07
Saudi Arabia preparing to grant IAEA more intrusive powers, Grossi says
VIENNA, Sept 7 -
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Grossi → prepare → powers
A planned U.S.-Saudi atomic deal does not include Riyadh signing the Additional Protocol that gives the U.N. nuclear watchdog sweeping inspection powers, but something close to it on some points is in the works, the agency's chief said on Monday.
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chief → include → Monday
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement on civil nuclear power cooperation in July that would let Riyadh enrich uranium and build nuclear reactors using U.S. technology.
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Riyadh → reach → technology
Non-proliferation groups, such as the Arms Control Association, have criticised the planned "123 agreement" for not including the Additional Protocol, which grants the International Atomic Energy Agency extra powers such as the ability to carry out snap inspections at undeclared locations.
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which → criticise → locations
Iran implemented the Additional Protocol from 2016 to 2021 under a nuclear deal with major powers that unravelled after the U.S. pulled out in 2018.
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U.S. → implement → 2018
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said while the Additional Protocol would be the "ideal setup", Riyadh was preparing to go beyond its core obligations under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement governing relations with the IAEA.
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Riyadh → say → IAEA
"What is important is that in the consultations, in the preparation process, it has been possible to introduce a number of provisions to the bilateral agreement that will give the agency additional verification and monitoring authorisations," he told a press conference.
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he → introduce → conference
Those would be in relation to activities such as uranium enrichment and the step preceding it known as uranium conversion, as well as reprocessing, which can separate plutonium from spent reactor fuel.
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which → precede → fuel
"These are sensitive activities, as we all know.
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we → know → ?
So for those we are going to have authorisations and capacities which are very, very similar to those that you may find in an Additional Protocol," he said, without elaborating.
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he → go → Protocol
Once the details are finalised, the bilateral agreement between the IAEA and Saudi Arabia will be presented to the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors, Grossi said.
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Grossi → finalise → Governors
