Is normalization getting further away? The White House National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, stated this evening (Tuesday) during a briefing to reporters that no announcement is expected regarding progress in the contacts for an agreement between the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Israel in the near future. He also mentioned that the US will seek to obtain input from the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding Saudi Arabia's demand for a civilian nuclear program, which would include uranium enrichment on the kingdom's territory.
"I won't go into details about the talks with the Saudis and their intentions regarding civilian nuclear capabilities. We'll leave that to the diplomatic channels," Sullivan said. "We still have a way to go in consideration of all components of these discussions, including technical deliberations, so we don't expect any announcement soon on this matter."
However, Sullivan clarified that "peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia would be a significant matter, creating a more stable Middle East in which states can cooperate. It would benefit the United States, and therefore it's worth trying to achieve. It's also something that we continue to work on through consultation with the Saudis and Israelis. We will work on it systematically as much as possible."
As previously reported, it was announced Monday night that US President Joe Biden is considering meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, in order to discuss a possible agreement between the US and Saudi Arabia, which could also include normalization with Israel. According to the report, if the meeting takes place, it will occur during the G20 Leaders' Summit scheduled for September 9th in India.
However, officials at the White House have clarified that a final decision on this matter has not yet been made at this stage, and the president is considering his options. The Saudi Embassy in Washington also did not respond to the report.
