Senator Lindsey Graham on Sunday signaled strong support for President Donald Trump’s emerging strategy regarding Iran, arguing that any long-term agreement with Tehran must be tied to a dramatic expansion of the Abraham Accords.
In a lengthy post on X, Graham stated that regional realignment centered on Arab-Israeli normalization would transform a potential Trump-brokered Iran deal into “one of the most consequential in the history of the Middle East.”
“If in fact as a result of these negotiations to end the Iranian conflict, our Arab and Muslim allies in the region agreed to join the Abraham Accords, it would make this agreement one of the most consequential in the history of the Middle East,” Graham wrote.
The South Carolina Republican specifically named Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan as nations whose participation in the Abraham Accords would fundamentally reshape the region. “Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan joining the Abraham Accords would be beyond transformative for the region and world,” he added, calling it “a brilliant move by President Trump.”
Graham’s comments strongly suggested that Trump has privately or publicly floated the idea of linking any broader Iran understanding to expanded Arab recognition of Israel.
The senator repeatedly referenced what he described as Trump’s expectations for Saudi Arabia and other nations to join the accords. “To Saudi Arabia and others: Now is the time to be bold for the future of a new Middle East,” Graham wrote.
“I expect, as President Trump has suggested, you will in fact, join the Abraham Accords, effectively ending the Arab-Israeli conflict.”
Graham also delivered a blunt warning to Riyadh and other regional powers, cautioning that rejecting such a framework could damage relations with Washington. “If you refuse to go down this path as suggested by President Trump, it will have severe repercussions for our future relationships and make this peace proposal unacceptable,” he said. “Further, it would be seen by history as a major miscalculation.”
The remarks underscore growing Republican support for using the Abraham Accords — landmark normalization agreements negotiated during Trump’s first term between Israel and several Arab states — as a centerpiece of a broader Middle East strategy involving Iran.
Trump administration officials and allies have increasingly argued that deeper cooperation among Sunni Arab states and Israel could isolate Iran economically, militarily, and diplomatically while creating a new regional security architecture.
Graham urged Trump not to back away from the strategy as negotiations involving Iran continue. “President Trump: Stick to your guns in getting a good deal with Iran,” he wrote. “Equally important, stick to your guns in insisting Saudi Arabia and others join the Abraham Accords as part of these negotiations.”
“Again, this is a brilliant proposal by President Trump,” he added.
The Abraham Accords, first signed in 2020, normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
