CURRENT AFFAIRS | 24 JULY 2026
The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a controversial peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement — commonly called a “123 Agreement” — that could let Riyadh kickstart a civilian nuclear programme. President Trump signalled that a full deal hinges on Saudi Arabia normalising ties with Israel via the Abraham Accords, raising sharp questions about non-proliferation in West Asia.
Constitutional & Legal Framework
- 123 Agreement: Named after Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act, 1954, it is a legal framework for significant nuclear cooperation between the US and another country, requiring strong non-proliferation standards.
- NPT & IAEA: The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968) and International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards aim to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons while allowing peaceful use.
- Abraham Accords: US-brokered agreements (from 2020) normalising ties between Israel and Arab states such as the UAE and Bahrain.
The CLAT Angle
For CLAT, the key is telling apart the instruments: the NPT (multilateral, 1968), IAEA safeguards (verification), and a bilateral 123 Agreement (US domestic-law framework for nuclear trade). India is NOT an NPT signatory but concluded a 123 Agreement with the US in 2008. Expect a question on why India–US nuclear cooperation was significant despite India being outside the NPT.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Parties | United States and Saudi Arabia |
| Instrument | ‘123 Agreement’ under Section 123, US Atomic Energy Act 1954 |
| Condition | Full deal linked to Saudi–Israel normalisation (Abraham Accords) |
| Global regime | NPT (1968) + IAEA safeguards |
| India parallel | India–US 123 Agreement signed 2008 despite India being outside NPT |
Memory Hook: “123-NIA”
123 Agreement rests on NPT, IAEA safeguards, Atomic Energy Act 1954.
Test Yourself: 10-Question Quiz
Attempt all 10 questions below and check your CLAT current-affairs readiness.
Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions
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