WASHINGTON, D.C., May 25 (ANI) — As diplomatic efforts intensify to reduce hostilities with Iran, US President Donald Trump is reportedly seeking to use the peace process to reshape the geopolitical landscape of West Asia by expanding the Abraham Accords.
According to Axios, Trump held a high-level conference call Saturday with leaders from several Arab and Muslim-majority nations, telling them that once the conflict with Iran ends, he wants more countries to formally recognize Israel and join the Abraham Accords.
The report said the proposal caught several leaders off guard.
The call included leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain. The discussion took place as sensitive negotiations continued over a possible US-Iran peace agreement aimed at easing regional instability.
During the conversation, Trump reportedly urged countries that do not currently recognize Israel to move toward normalization after the conflict ends. US officials quoted in the report said the proposal prompted a brief silence on the call, particularly from leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan, none of which maintain formal diplomatic ties with Israel.
“One of the US officials said Trump joked and asked if they were still there,” the report stated.
Saudi Arabia remains one of the biggest obstacles to expanding the accords. Although Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously shown openness toward ties with Israel, the war in Gaza, tensions with Iran, and rising anger across the Arab world have complicated the issue.
Riyadh has maintained that normalization with Israel will depend on a clear and irreversible pathway toward the creation of a Palestinian state, a condition Israel has rejected.
Trump also revived one of his more controversial ideas by suggesting Iran could one day potentially join the normalization framework.
“I would like to thank, thus far, all of the countries of the Middle East for their support and cooperation, which will be further enhanced and strengthened by their joining the nations of the historic Abraham Accords, and who knows, perhaps the Islamic Republic of Iran would like to join as well!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Such a development appears unlikely under Iran’s current leadership, which has long refused to recognize Israel and regularly refers to it as an occupying power.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected similar remarks last year.
“Iran will never recognize an occupied regime that has committed genocide and killed children,” Araghchi said during an interview with Iranian state television in 2025.
Iran has consistently opposed normalization between Arab nations and Israel, including before the Abraham Accords were signed.
US Sen. Lindsey Graham voiced strong support for Trump’s vision, warning that regional partners could face consequences if they reject the normalization initiative.
“Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan joining the Abraham Accords would be beyond transformative for the region and world. It is a brilliant move by President Trump,” Graham wrote in a post on X.
He added that refusing the proposal “would have severe repercussions for our future relationships and make this peace proposal unacceptable.”
Brokered by the United States in 2020, the Abraham Accords established formal relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco.
For decades, most Arab countries had refused to recognize Israel until the Palestinian issue was resolved. The accords shifted that approach by focusing on shared strategic interests, including concerns over Iran, along with cooperation in trade, technology, defense, and investment.
Despite Trump’s push for a broader regional realignment, a finalized agreement with Tehran remains unresolved.
On Sunday, Trump said relations with Tehran were becoming “more professional and productive” but stressed that negotiations should not be rushed.
“The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side,” Trump wrote.
“The blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified and signed.”
Trump also reiterated Washington’s core demand that Iran must not develop or obtain a nuclear weapon.
The proposed framework reportedly includes a possible 60-day ceasefire, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and future negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear program. However, major disagreements remain over sanctions relief, Iran’s uranium stockpile, and the release of frozen Iranian assets.
The diplomatic efforts are unfolding amid deep political divisions across the region. While countries such as the UAE and Bahrain already maintain formal ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords, others — particularly Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan — continue to face significant domestic and regional pressure tied to the Palestinian issue.
The situation is further complicated by political uncertainty within Israel. The country is expected to hold elections later this year, placing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under growing pressure following months of conflict in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. (ANI)
About The Author
