Mabon said the reported framework appears to differ substantially from previous U.S. nuclear cooperation agreements, particularly the one signed with the United Arab Emirates in 2009, News.Az reports.
“The Saudi deal does not seem to have those same handrails,” he said.
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“It doesn’t seem to have the same guardrails that one would normally expect with a 123 agreement.”
Mabon said the apparent lack of stronger safeguards could fuel accusations of double standards across the Middle East, particularly from Iran, which has long argued that its own nuclear program is peaceful.
“I think there’s going to be deep-seated charges of hypocrisy,” he said, suggesting that regional allies may also view Saudi Arabia as receiving preferential treatment.
Despite those concerns, Mabon stressed that the agreement should not automatically be interpreted as a pathway to Saudi nuclear weapons.
“This isn’t something that can happen overnight,” he said.
“This is about developing skills, know-how, technology, a whole industry.”
He added that although questions remain about the extent of International Atomic Energy Agency oversight and U.S. monitoring, a civilian nuclear program does not necessarily translate into a military one.
“There are questions that do need to be asked,” he said regarding oversight provisions that have yet to be made public.
Looking ahead, Mabon predicted the agreement is still likely to move forward despite uncertainty surrounding Trump’s effort to link it to Saudi recognition of Israel.
“I imagine that it will happen,” he said.
“Donald Trump knows that he wants to keep the Saudis firmly on side… The Saudis have got a broadly good deal.”
While he does not expect Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords in the near future without progress toward Palestinian statehood, Mabon said both governments ultimately have strong incentives to finalize the nuclear pact.
