US President Donald Trump has reportedly told leaders of several Arab and Muslim-majority nations that if a deal to end the Iran conflict is secured, he wants their countries to move toward peace agreements with Israel, Axios reported, citing two US officials familiar with a Saturday conference call.
Trump’s remarks signal what he sees as the next major diplomatic step in the Middle East after the Iran war, expanding the scope of the Abraham Accords, the US-backed framework aimed at normalising ties between Israel and Muslim nations.
Pakistan silence over Trump's idea
On Saturday, Trump held discussions with leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain to discuss the evolving Iran deal. However, the leaders, especially those of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan, were surprised by Trump's request amid the fact that they don't have formal diplomatic relations with Israel. "There was silence on the line, and Trump joked and asked if they were still there," one of the US officials told Axios.
Still confused about the Abraham Accords? Read below to get a clear idea of the agreement.
What are the Abraham Accords?
The Abraham Accords are a set of agreements to normalise relations with Israel. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed during US President Donald Trump's first term in 2020, breaking a longstanding taboo to become the first Arab states to recognise Israel in a quarter century. Morocco and Sudan followed suit.
Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Trump, helped broker the accords.
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The biggest prize in the accords for Israel was the agreement with the United Arab Emirates, a major global oil producer and commercial and trade hub with diplomatic clout across the Middle East.
Israel and the UAE have since developed close economic and security ties, including defence cooperation and a free trade pact. But ties have been strained lately.
Trump pushes for a new Middle East plan
But Trump’s biggest hurdle is still Saudi Arabia, which has not officially recognised Israel. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had earlier signalled openness to improving ties with Israel. However, the war in Gaza, tensions with Iran and public anger across Arab countries have made such a move politically difficult.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly said it will only normalise ties with Israel if there is a clear and irreversible roadmap for a Palestinian state, a demand Israel has not agreed to.
Trump suggests Iran could join Abraham Accords
Trump also revived a controversial idea: what if Iran joined the Abraham Accords?
Posting on Truth Social, Trump thanked Middle Eastern countries for their support and said regional cooperation would become stronger if more countries joined the Abraham Accords. He even floated the possibility of Iran becoming part of the deal someday.
Still, such a move looks unlikely for now. Iran has refused to recognise Israel for decades and has consistently opposed Arab countries improving ties with it.
Why Trump’s decision could be a major blow to Pakistan?
It could create strategic challenges for Pakistan. For decades, Pakistan has relied on a regional narrative strongly aligned with anti-Israel positions and close security ties with Gulf powers. If Iran, a long-time ideological rival of Israel, normalises ties, Pakistan could find itself diplomatically isolated in parts of the Muslim world.
Such a shift may also deepen India’s regional advantage. New economic and security corridors linking Israel, Gulf nations and possibly Iran could strengthen India’s connectivity and trade role, reducing Pakistan’s strategic importance. Islamabad may also face pressure from Gulf allies to soften its own position on Israel. However, this remains hypothetical; Iran joining the accords would represent a dramatic geopolitical shift and is currently far from certain.
(With inputs from Reuters)