BANGLADESH PERSPECTIVE

Dhaka, July 23, 2026. Bangladeshi editorial offices, via TBS News and The Daily Star, report that the Trump administration is set to submit to Congress a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, known as the "123 Agreement", referencing Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954. The document is to be signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman, who had already initialed a preliminary agreement in Riyadh last year, according to sources cited by Reuters.

A key point highlighted by TBS News is that the text does not include the "Gold Standard" clause, which would have prohibited the kingdom from enriching uranium or reprocessing spent fuel, two potential pathways to nuclear weapons. It also excludes the "Additional Protocol", which would have given the International Atomic Energy Agency expanded inspection rights, including to undeclared sites. Officials cited anonymously confirm that the agreement aims to open up a civilian nuclear industry worth several billion dollars.

The Daily Star notes the striking contrast with the regional context: this pact comes as the US has been waging a campaign against Iran's nuclear program since February 28, with repeated strikes targeting the underground Natanz site and the so-called "Pickaxe Mountain" area. Tehran denies the existence of secret facilities while facing a naval blockade led by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia, a US ally.

Bangladeshi articles do not take an explicit stance but juxtapose two distinct diplomatic treatments applied to two regional capitals with sensitive nuclear ambitions. No official Bangladeshi reaction is reported in the available articles; coverage remains descriptive, based on Reuters dispatches and information reprised from The New York Times.