Iran war live: US launches new attacks; Houthis attack 2 Saudi oil tankers

By Matthew TorresReporting from Washington, DC, USThe Trump administration is calling this a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement, something that will lay the groundwork for a multibillion-dollar partnership with the Saudis for decades to come.Under the agreement, American companies will be able to export nuclear technology, create jobs, and build nuclear infrastructure in the kingdom.Saudi Arabia is a US ally, and it has long wanted a nuclear deal such as this to help build up its electric grid. And the Trump administration says the deal restores the US’s edge in the global civil nuclear marketplace.Both countries say it will help smooth and deepen their relationship while also upholding the nuclear security and safety standards, and what they are calling nuclear non-proliferation.The agreement comes at a time when the war on Iran is escalating and the US is saying it is doing this to prevent any kind of nuclear weapons programme in Iran.So the big question is, why this deal now?We know that former President Joe Biden was almost able to strike somewhat of a similar deal, but that was contingent on relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia normalising.This deal does not mention that. But both countries are describing this as a big win in order for nuclear cooperation in the Middle East.US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speak as they arrive during the Gulf Cooperation Council Leaders’ summit at The Ritz-Carlton on May 14, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [Win McNamee/Getty Images]