Former President Donald Trump emphasized the need for additional Middle Eastern countries to establish diplomatic relations with Israel as a condition for participating in a peace deal involving Iran. He argued that nations failing to normalize ties should be excluded from the agreement, signaling a strategy to broaden regional cooperation through the Abraham Accords.
Trump specifically mentioned Saudi Arabia and Qatar as key countries that should join the accords alongside Egypt and Jordan, two nations that already maintain diplomatic channels with Israel. This push comes amid skepticism from analysts about the likelihood of such expansions, given longstanding political obstacles and recent tensions fueled by Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
The Abraham Accords were initially brokered during Trump’s first term, aiming to foster diplomatic breakthroughs between Israel and several Arab states. Since returning to the political spotlight, Trump has sought to revive this agenda by encouraging more countries to align formally with Israel as part of a broader peace initiative involving Iran.
This proposition has found some resonance within parts of the Republican Party, particularly among Iran hawks wary of the emerging peace agreements. Senator Lindsey Graham praised Trump’s call as a transformative approach that could bring historic change to the Middle East’s diplomatic landscape.