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US President Donald Trump has stipulated that several Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, must normalize relations with Israel as part of a potential new deal to end the war with Iran. In a statement on Monday, Trump said that the expansion of the “Abraham Accords” should be linked to the ongoing negotiations surrounding Iran.
According to a report by US news agency AP News, the “Abraham Accords,” signed during Trump’s first term, was a diplomatic agreement through which several Arab nations, including the UAE and Bahrain, normalized relations with Israel. This time, Trump wants to add Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan to that list.
In a post on social media, Trump claimed that discussions on Iran were “progressing well.” However, he made it clear that more countries in the Middle East would need to establish diplomatic ties with Israel for a long-term peace agreement.
Meanwhile, news also emerged on the same day about “self-defensive attacks” by US forces in southern Iran. The US Central Command stated that missile launch sites and vessels attempting to lay sea mines were targeted in response to threats from Iranian forces.
However, Trump’s proposal has already faced criticism. A section of hardline Republican leaders in the US believes that excessive leniency is being shown towards Iran. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has also commented that the potential deal would be “bad for the region.”
Analysts suggest that implementing Trump’s plan could be difficult if countries like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan do not change their stance on the Palestinian issue. Simultaneously, Iran’s nuclear program, the security of the Strait of Hormuz, and Israeli-Iranian tensions — all combined — indicate that the situation remains extremely sensitive.