US-Saudi nuclear deal 'is off' if Saudi Arabia does not join Abraham accords, says White House

The United States has stated that a significant nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia will not proceed unless the kingdom agrees to join the Abraham Accords. The Abraham Accords are agreements that established formal relations between Israel and several Arab nations, starting in 2020.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt explained that the nuclear agreement is conditional on Saudi Arabia's participation in these accords. She emphasized that President Trump views the expansion of the Abraham Accords as a long-term goal for achieving peace and stability in the Middle East. Leavitt clarified that this condition has been communicated previously, even though it was not explicitly mentioned when the deal was announced.

Meanwhile, the conflict between the US and Iran continues. The US House of Representatives has again passed a resolution demanding that President Trump withdraw American troops from the conflict with Iran. This symbolic vote, which saw some Republican support, reflects ongoing concerns about the president's military involvement in the region. The administration, however, maintains that such resolutions are unconstitutional.

Escalating tensions have also been felt in the Red Sea, where Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have reportedly attacked two Saudi oil tankers. In response, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that the Houthis were influenced or manipulated by Iran into taking this action. He expressed hope for de-escalation, stating that it was a mistake for the Houthis to become involved in the conflict.

Adding to the regional instability, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is reported to have flown commanders and military equipment into Yemen. This move is seen as an effort to bolster their allies. Simultaneously, oil prices have reacted to the increased tensions, with global benchmarks rising significantly, nearing $100 per barrel for the first time in months.

Elsewhere, reports indicate that US strikes have hit a border crossing between Iran and Iraq, which was reportedly crowded with pilgrims. In Gaza, a UN report indicates a slight improvement in food security and child nutrition, but stresses that the situation remains fragile and precarious. These developments highlight the complex and interconnected nature of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.