The United Arab Emirates said on Monday it has agreed a draft pact with the United States for civilian nuclear cooperation, the first such deal between Washington and a Middle East nation.
"The United Arab Emirates and the United States have completed their negotiations concerning signing a proposed draft of the civilian nuclear cooperation deal, a foreign ministry official said in a statement carried by the official WAM news agency.
The deal — which comes even as the United States is spearheading a campaign against Iran's nuclear drive — involves the exchange of nuclear materials and components for civilian use, he said.
"We are certain the treaty shows the transparency which the UAE's civilian nuclear programme is based upon," the UAE ambassador to the Unite States, Yussef al-Otaibi said in the statement.
Otaibi said the deal, which is currently being discussed with members of the US Congress, contains special measures to ensure top levels of security and safety, as well as curb nuclear proliferation.
US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Friday that the deal still had to clear many legislative and other hurdles before it takes effect.
"And where we stand right now with the UAE is I believe that we have a common understanding about a text," McCormack said, specifying that one has not been signed yet.
McCormack comments came after the Wall Street Journal reported that the UAE-US deal calls for the United States to share nuclear fuel, technology and know-how in return for commitments to follow the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and UN safeguards.
The UAE also signed a deal with France for help in developing nuclear energy for peaceful ends during a visit by President Nicolas Sarkozy in January.
The nuclear deals with Iran's Arab neighbour comes despite international pressure on Tehran to halt its atomic programme. Western nations fear Iran could be secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons, charges denied by Tehran.
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