By Charlie McCarthy | Monday, 25 May 2026 09:04 AM EDT
President Donald Trump said Monday that Middle Eastern countries with vested interests in U.S. securing a deal with Iran should be required to “sign onto the Abraham Accords.”
Trump warned ongoing negotiations with Iran are “proceeding nicely” but would only yield a deal if it advances peace, security and American interests throughout the Middle East. He added that failure could mean a return “to the Battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before.”
The former president said he recently held discussions with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain, pressing them to formally recognize Israel through the Abraham Accords as part of any broader regional settlement involving Iran.
“After all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together,” Trump stated, “it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords.”
The Abraham Accords, brokered during Trump’s first term, normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Conservatives have widely praised the agreements as among the most significant diplomatic breakthroughs in modern Middle East history after decades of failed foreign policy under previous administrations.
Trump argued the accords have delivered a “Financial, Economic, and Social BOOM” for participating nations and could ultimately bring “true Power, Strength, and Peace to the Middle East for the first time in 5,000 years.”
Some leaders on the conference call were reportedly caught off guard by Trump’s demand that additional Muslim-majority countries normalize relations with Israel as part of any post-conflict arrangement with Iran.
Saudi Arabia remains the biggest obstacle to broader normalization efforts, with Riyadh insisting that recognition of Israel remains tied to progress toward a Palestinian state. Qatar and Pakistan also currently do not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.
Trump suggested even Iran could eventually become part of the accords if it agrees to abandon nuclear ambitions and embrace regional peace. “It would be an Honor to have them also be part of this unparalleled World Coalition,” Trump wrote.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., strongly backed Trump’s proposal, calling it “a brilliant move” that could permanently reshape the Middle East and effectively end the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Trump reiterated that any agreement with Tehran must prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, a red line he has repeatedly emphasized throughout the negotiations.
