Senators Markey, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Restrict Saudi Access to Nuclear Weapons Technologies

Bill Text (PDF)

Washington (March 25, 2026) - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), co-chairs of the bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, today reintroduced the No Nuclear Weapons for Saudi Arabia Act, legislation that would mandate that any nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia can go into effect only if it receives the affirmative vote of Congress. Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) leads the legislation in the House of Representatives. Senator Markey first introduced this legislation in 2019 with then-Senator Marco Rubio.

Since the start of his second term, Trump has launched two illegal attacks against Iran in part to prevent Tehran from enriching uranium. Ironically, the administration is now planning to allow Saudi Arabia to gain access to that same technology, even though the Saudi regime has openly coveted nuclear weapons. This will only increase the risk of an arms race in the Middle East.

"Trump and Secretary Rubio are not only reckless, they are hypocrites. They are allowing Saudi Arabia, a belligerent and authoritarian nation, to develop nuclear weapons technologies while starting a war with Iran under the guise of preventing an Iranian nuclear bomb," said Senator Markey. "Let us be clear: allowing Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons would be irresponsible and dangerous. We want to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons, not expand it."

"Trump is moving quickly to sign a deal that provides Saudi Arabia with the capability to pursue a nuclear weapon-a massive mistake," said Senator Merkley. "Trump launched a war in part to stop the possibility of Iran pursuing a nuclear weapon. Yet Trump's deal would reportedly allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium, reprocess nuclear reactor fuels, and forego inspections at many Saudi nuclear facilities. This is a massive invitation for Saudi Arabia to pursue development of a nuclear weapon. Such nuclear proliferation would damage the security of the United States and the security of nations throughout the region."

The No Nuclear Weapons for Saudi Arabia Act is cosponsored by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

On March 18, Senators Markey and Merkley and Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), along with Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding the Trump administration meet the "gold standard" of nuclear non-proliferation protections by denying Saudi Arabia the means to produce weapons-grade uranium and plutonium, materials that could be used in a nuclear bomb.

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