Trump Urges Arab and Muslim Leaders to Normalize Relations With Israel Once Iran Deal Is Reached
Why It Matters
President Trump is pushing to expand the Abraham Accords as part of a broader regional realignment, signaling that any deal to end the ongoing conflict with Iran could be paired with historic new peace agreements between Muslim-majority nations and Israel. The ambition is significant, but deep political divisions — and a looming Israeli election — make near-term progress difficult.
What Happened
During a conference call held Saturday, Trump spoke with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain to discuss the framework of an emerging agreement with Iran. Two U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the call confirmed that Trump pressed all of the participating nations that do not yet have formal ties with Israel to normalize relations once the conflict concludes.
The announcement drew an unexpected silence from the assembled leaders. Trump reportedly broke the tension himself, joking to ask whether the other parties were still on the line. He then informed the leaders that his envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would follow up on the normalization question in coming weeks.
Following the call, Trump posted on Truth Social that he was grateful for regional support and expressed his desire for those countries to join “the Nations of the historic Abraham Accords.” He also floated the idea that Iran itself could one day become part of the accords — which would require Tehran to formally recognize Israel, something no Iranian government has been willing to do.
By the Numbers
- 8 countries were represented on Saturday’s call: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain.
- 3 of those nations — Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan — currently have no formal diplomatic relations with Israel and were described as particularly surprised by Trump’s request.
- September 2025 is the projected timeline for Israeli elections, which both Israeli and U.S. officials say will delay any Saudi movement on normalization.
- Trump first raised the Abraham Accords question with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an Oval Office meeting last November, where the conversation reportedly grew tense.
The Saudi Obstacle
Saudi Arabia remains the central prize for any expanded normalization framework. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had previously signaled openness to an agreement with Israel, but his position has cooled considerably over the past year. Riyadh continues to insist that Israel commit to a credible and time-bound pathway toward Palestinian statehood before any normalization moves forward — a condition the current Israeli government rejects outright.
The Iran conflict and a growing rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE have further complicated the Kingdom’s posture, pushing it toward a harder line on Israeli policy. U.S. and Israeli officials believe Riyadh will wait to see the outcome of Israel’s September elections before taking any concrete steps.
Congressional Reaction
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who has been a vocal critic of the emerging Iran agreement, nonetheless endorsed Trump’s normalization push. In a post Sunday, Graham called a potential expansion of the Abraham Accords “one of the most consequential” diplomatic outcomes in modern Middle Eastern history.
Graham also issued a direct warning to holdout nations: “If you refuse to go down this path as suggested by President Trump, it will have severe repercussions for our future relationships,” he wrote, calling resistance a “major miscalculation.”
What’s Next
Trump indicated on the call that he would speak next with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and expressed hope that Netanyahu would eventually be included in future multilateral discussions. Kushner and Witkoff are expected to begin diplomatic follow-up on the normalization question within the coming weeks.
The broader Iran deal itself remains unfinished, and its final terms will heavily shape whether participating nations feel politically able to take steps toward Israel. The regional security environment — including how the Iran conflict concludes — will be a key variable determining how much diplomatic space exists for any new agreements.