Latest news with #123Agreement
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
From nuclear deal to education policy, K Kasturirangan's impact was felt far and wide
Bengaluru: The 'Kasturirangan Magic' Isro boasts of wasn't confined to rockets and satellites. It radiated far beyond the walls of Isro centres, echoing through the halls of Parliament, university campuses, environmental summits, and even the atomic energy corridors. Kasturirangan, one of India's most decorated scientists, left an indelible imprint on national projects that shaped the country's science, education and policy landscapes. Long after he stepped down as chairman of Isro, his influence only widened in scope. In Dec 2007, tension hung in the air as the Rajya Sabha prepared to debate the contentious Indo-US nuclear deal or 123 Agreement. Kasturirangan, serving as a nominated member, had already developed a reputation that transcended political divides. "You may speak for as long as you need," the Congress floor coordinator had told him earlier that day, recognising the weight his words would carry in the critical debate. For 29 minutes, Kasturirangan addressed the chamber, articulating with precision and clarity why the nuclear deal would serve India's long-term interests. He spoke of energy security, India's vast thorium deposits, and the visionary three-phase nuclear programme conceptualised by Homi Bhabha decades earlier. The then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, who had staked significant political capital on this agreement, waved in appreciation when Kasturirangan finished —a rare gesture from the typically reserved statesman. That evening, as Kasturirangan dined with fellow MPs, his mobile phone rang. It was nearly 10pm. "Dr Kasturirangan," came the unmistakable voice of the PM. "I wanted to personally thank you for your brilliant speech today." For academics & environment Equally transformative was his role in drafting India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. As chairman of the NEP committee, he championed a holistic, learner-centric vision that reimagined Indian education from the ground up — ushering in multidisciplinary learning, mother tongue instruction in early years, and an emphasis on critical thinking. This was not his first tryst with academic reforms. As chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, and later the Central University of Rajasthan, he brought the weight of experience to bear on institutional governance. Environmental conservation too found a champion in Kasturirangan. He led the high-level working group that crafted a strategy to protect the fragile ecology of the Western Ghats, a move that sparked dialogue across ministries and states. As the chair of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission, he helped design policies to bridge scientific research and societal development, especially in the state he had made home. His tenure in the Planning Commission saw a surge in national investment in science and technology, with Kasturirangan pushing for mega science projects, international collaboration, and innovation in energy and environment. From guiding space archaeology projects at Nias (National Institute of Advanced Studies) to serving the Atomic Energy Commission, he was a perennial architect behind the scenes. In every role, what stood out was not just his versatility, but his ability to quietly align ambition with pragmatism. The stars may have been his laboratory, but his legacy was built here on Earth.
Gulf Insider
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Washington, Riyadh Agree To 'Pathway' For Saudi Civilian Nuclear Program
The United States and Saudi Arabia are moving toward a preliminary agreement to cooperate on developing a civil nuclear program in the kingdom, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced this weekend during his visit to Riyadh. Wright, on his first official visit to Saudi Arabia, met with Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and stated that both nations are on a 'pathway' toward collaboration in nuclear energy. The agreement is expected to involve a memorandum of understanding later this year. Any US involvement in Saudi Arabia's nuclear program would require a so-called '123 Agreement,' referring to Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954. This section outlines nine non-proliferation requirements designed to prevent the use of civil nuclear technology for weapons development or the transfer of sensitive materials. 'For a US partnership and involvement in nuclear here, there will definitely be a 123 agreement … there's lots of ways to structure a deal that will accomplish both the Saudi objectives and the American objectives,' Wright said. Progress on a deal has previously been hindered by Saudi Arabia's reluctance to accept restrictions that would prohibit uranium enrichment or fuel reprocessing – both of which can be used to produce nuclear weapons. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) has previously warned that Saudi Arabia would pursue nuclear weapons if Iran acquired them, a position that has raised concerns among arms control advocates and US lawmakers. Click here to read more.
Saudi Gazette
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia and US to sign civil nuclear energy cooperation agreement
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — US Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced that the United States and Saudi Arabia will sign an agreement on long-term cooperation in civil nuclear energy and technology. Addressing a press conference in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Sunday, Wright said that further details on nuclear cooperation between Washington and Riyadh will be announced later this year, according to Reuters. The US Secretary of State touched on the "123 Agreement," saying, "There will certainly be a 123 nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia." The "123 Agreement," part of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, establishes peaceful nuclear cooperation within a legally binding framework between the United States and its partners, establishing the foundation for long-term strategic civil nuclear partnerships globally. U.S. law generally requires a 123 Agreement to be in place before licensing significant exports of U.S.-origin nuclear materials such as nuclear reactor fuel and equipment such as nuclear reactors and key components to another partner, according to the U.S. State Department. The US Secretary of Energy arrived in Riyadh on Saturday, coming from the UAE, at the start of a tour of the region that will also take him to Qatar.
Al Bawaba
13-04-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
U.S. and KSA near landmark nuclear deal ahead of Trump's visit
ALBAWABA- The United States is preparing to sign a groundbreaking civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia within months, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced. Also Read Will Trump be the instigator of Saudi-Israeli grand deal? Speaking to Al Arabiya ahead of President Donald Trump's anticipated visit to Riyadh—his first international trip since beginning his second term—Wright described the forthcoming deal as a 'historic partnership' and emphasized the need for a broader framework than the traditional 123 Agreement to guide cooperation with the Kingdom. 'We're laying the groundwork for a comprehensive cooperation agreement within weeks,' Wright stated. 'This isn't just a commercial deal—it's a strategic alliance that could reshape U.S.-Saudi energy and security relations.' The announcement revives the nuclear talks that have long simmered in the background of U.S.-Saudi diplomacy. The civil nuclear deal would allow Saudi Arabia to develop a peaceful nuclear energy program with American support, an ambition long sought by Riyadh. The partnership may include technology transfers, joint ventures, and regulatory cooperation; components that require approval from two-thirds of the U.S. Senate. President Trump's upcoming visit echoes his landmark 2017 trip to Saudi Arabia during his first term, when Riyadh pledged $450 billion in arms deals and U.S. investments. Trump recently claimed that Saudi Arabia is prepared to inject another $1 trillion into the U.S. economy, further solidifying the Kingdom's role as a cornerstone of his foreign policy. The timing of the visit is critical. Trump is expected to push for renewed momentum on a long-delayed normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Efforts stalled under the Biden administration due to strained ties between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and President Joe Biden, as well as the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. Biden's inability to offer firm security guarantees in return for normalization also slowed progress. Riyadh has made clear that any normalization deal with Israel must come with solid U.S. defense commitments—chief among them a guarantee to defend Saudi Arabia in the event of an attack and support for its civilian nuclear aspirations. To secure bipartisan support, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has emphasized that the nuclear and normalization deals align with the original vision of the Abraham Accords. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and architect of the Accords, has also urged the former president to support the initiative, reinforcing its strategic importance to U.S. interests and Middle East stability.
Al Arabiya
13-04-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
US won't tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran, energy secretary says amid renewed talks
The United States will not accept a nuclear-armed Iran, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told Al Arabiya in an exclusive interview, as backchannel negotiations between Washington and Tehran resumed over the weekend in Muscat, Oman. "We're not going to tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran—not just for the Middle East, but for the world," Wright said, adding that it is "way too early to tell" whether the new diplomatic engagement will lead to a fresh deal. The talks, held in Oman, mark the first indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran since President Trump returned to office. U.S. officials described the discussions as "constructive," but no formal outcome has been announced. Wright, who is visiting Riyadh ahead of President Trump's expected trip to Saudi Arabia next month, stressed the need for strong leadership in dealing with Tehran. "We had four years of let's appease Iran... What happened? Iranian oil exports surged... you've seen what's happened with Hamas and Hezbollah and the Houthis and a rapid acceleration of the Iranian nuclear program. None of those were good results." He said the current administration would take a different approach. "Now we have a strong, firm leadership in the United States that's again pro prosperity, pro peace, and a very firm line on Iran." Wright's visit to Saudi Arabia comes as Washington and Riyadh move closer to a broader energy cooperation agreement, including a potential deal on commercial nuclear development. "In the short run, we'll sign a broader agreement... Nuclear is certainly one of those areas," he said. "To get a specific agreement to partner on commercial nuclear development in Saudi Arabia, that'll take a little bit longer, that'll be months, not weeks." He confirmed that any nuclear cooperation would require a "123 Agreement," a legally binding framework under the U.S. Atomic Energy Act. "That won't happen without that agreement... We'll need a 123 agreement and a broader, specific framework." Wright also addressed the sharp decline in oil prices, which dipped below $60 per barrel last week after the U.S. President's tariffs spooked markets. "Oil prices are... people looking ahead in the marketplace," he said. "I think what you're seeing today is... probably an overly large concern about economic growth going forward." Despite the drop, he rejected falling prices as an overreaction. "I can't predict oil prices, that's for sure... But people always take a trend, however long that trend is, and extrapolate that trend. The world just doesn't work that way." He cited the resilience of the U.S. shale sector—a space he knows well, having previously served as CEO of Liberty Energy, North America's second-largest hydraulic fracturing company. "The best operators with the best locations have very low break even prices... The lower quality operators that have... lower quality marginal... I mean, resources that are much lower quality, their price to break even is much higher." On Russia, Wright said export markets had become a problem for Moscow. "He's [Putin] lost his largest export market for natural gas to Europe. He's got lower oil prices. He's become a pariah around the world. I think it's in Russia's best interest to get to a peace agreement." Asked whether energy diplomacy was truly back on the table, Wright said the message to the Gulf was clear: "American partnership is back. It's stronger... Our interest is America is a strong, resolute ally. American leadership is going to lead to strong economic growth, which leads to strong growth in energy demand, which is great for energy producers and for energy consumers."
