President Donald Trump stated on Monday that any agreement with Iran should mandate the inclusion of several additional countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, in the Abraham Accords. These U.S.-brokered agreements, aimed at normalizing relations with Israel, were established during Trump's first term.
Trump’s Social Media Post
In a social media post, Trump described negotiations as “proceeding nicely” but tied any eventual deal to expanded participation in the accords first signed in 2020. He specifically mentioned Saudi Arabia and Qatar as countries that should “immediately” sign on, followed by Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan. Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates were the first to join in 2020.
Trump wrote, “after all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords.”
Negotiations and Potential Flexibility
The president indicated he raised the Abraham Accords plan with leaders during negotiations on Saturday. He suggested he might accept “one or two” countries declining to sign, but emphasized that most should be willing. Egypt and Jordan already formally recognize Israel and have long-standing peace treaties.
It remains unclear when or how any deal with Iran might be completed, or how Abraham Accords membership could affect an agreement. Trump suggested that even Iran could eventually sign on if a deal is reached.
Background of the Abraham Accords
The accords are a series of diplomatic, economic, and security agreements forged with U.S. influence during Trump’s first term. Initially between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, they were later joined by Sudan, Morocco, and more recently, Kazakhstan. The agreements were framed as an effort to promote cooperation among countries in the Middle East and North Africa, with the administration viewing them as a pathway toward full ties with Israel.
