IRIA News

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U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 25, 2026, that all Muslim-majority countries involved in the Iran peace process should join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel as part of a wider regional agreement connected to ongoing negotiations with Iran.

The proposal comes as Washington continues diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the Middle East following months of conflict involving Iran, Israel, and regional armed groups.

Trump said he discussed the issue during calls with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, and Jordan.

The U.S. president also spoke with officials from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, two countries that already signed the Abraham Accords during his first term in office.

Expansion of the Abraham Accords

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump argued that countries involved in discussions surrounding Iran should immediately join the Abraham Accords.

Trump described the normalization agreements as one of the most successful diplomatic initiatives in recent Middle East history and said expanding them could transform the region politically and economically.

“I am mandatorily requesting that all Countries immediately sign the Abraham Accords,” Trump wrote. He added that if Iran reaches a final agreement with the United States, it would be “an Honor” for Tehran to eventually become part of what he described as an “unparalleled World Coalition.”

“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… Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!” – President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/GfylPZdqBf

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 24, 2026

Trump also claimed that several regional leaders would welcome a broader diplomatic framework once a deal with Iran is finalized. He said the United States had invested significant diplomatic effort in “pulling this very complex puzzle together”. He argued that normalization should now be considered a necessary part of the process.

Iran Negotiations Continue

Trump said negotiations with Iran were “proceeding nicely,” though he did not indicate that a final agreement was close. Reports in recent days have suggested that talks between Washington and Tehran have focused on reducing military tensions, preventing attacks on regional shipping lanes, and securing stability in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route.

The proposed framework reportedly includes temporary ceasefire arrangements and broader discussions on regional security. However, details remain unclear, and officials from both sides have avoided publicly confirming the full terms being discussed. Trump warned that failure to secure an agreement could lead to renewed military escalation.

The Iran negotiations have become one of the most closely watched diplomatic efforts in the region, particularly after months of confrontation involving missile strikes, drone attacks, and fears of wider regional war.

Several Gulf states have also expressed concern about the impact continued instability could have on energy markets and trade routes.

Pakistan Rejects the Proposal

Pakistan quickly rejected Trump’s suggestion that normalization with Israel should be tied to any agreement involving Iran. A Pakistani security source said the two issues were separate and could not be linked together as part of a single diplomatic framework.

“Pakistan is under no compulsion to adhere to any such demand,” the source said, adding that the Iran negotiations and the Abraham Accords “are not interlinked and cannot be made so.”

Islamabad has consistently maintained that it will not recognize Israel until the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The position remains widely supported across Pakistan’s political and religious spectrum, making any shift toward normalization politically difficult for the government.

Saudi Arabia Remains Key Target

Saudi Arabia is widely viewed as the most important country Trump hopes to bring into the Abraham Accords. The kingdom holds major political, economic, and religious influence in the Muslim world, and any normalization agreement with Israel would represent a historic shift in Middle East diplomacy.

However, Saudi officials have repeatedly stated that normalization cannot move forward without clear progress toward Palestinian statehood. Riyadh has continued to publicly support the Palestinian cause, especially following the Gaza war, which has fueled anger across the Arab and Muslim world.

As custodian of Islam’s two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, the kingdom faces strong domestic and regional pressure regarding relations with Israel.

Regional Tensions Remain High

Trump’s proposal is expected to face resistance across much of the region, particularly as the Gaza conflict continues to shape public opinion in Muslim-majority countries. Anger over civilian casualties and the humanitarian situation in Gaza has complicated efforts by several governments to publicly engage with Israel.

Egypt and Jordan already have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, but ties have become increasingly strained since the start of the Gaza war. Turkiye also maintains relations with Israel, though tensions between Ankara and Tel Aviv have sharply worsened over the conflict.

According to reports, some leaders reportedly reacted with silence during calls in which Trump raised the normalization proposal. So far, there has been no official public response from several governments mentioned by Trump.

Israel Closely Watching

The ongoing Iran negotiations have also raised concerns inside Israel. Israeli officials reportedly fear that a possible U.S.-Iran agreement may not sufficiently address Tehran’s nuclear activities, ballistic missile development, or support for regional armed groups such as Hezbollah.

Some Israeli officials believe a temporary arrangement could give Iran time to recover economically and rebuild military capabilities without resolving the broader security issues that have fueled tensions for years. Reports in Israeli media suggest officials are worried Israel could be sidelined in negotiations directly affecting its security interests.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly commented on Trump’s latest remarks regarding the Abraham Accords.  However, Israeli officials have continued to insist that any agreement with Iran must include strict limitations on Tehran’s military and nuclear capabilities.

Wider Middle East Coalition

Trump has repeatedly described the Abraham Accords as one of the major foreign policy achievements of his presidency. Signed in 2020, the agreements established diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.

Supporters of the accords argue that broader normalization could reshape the Middle East economically, strengthen regional security cooperation, and reduce long-term instability. Trump has frequently claimed that the agreements created economic opportunities and improved regional coordination.

Critics, however, argue that unresolved tensions surrounding Gaza and Palestinian statehood continue to make wider recognition of Israel politically difficult across much of the Muslim world. They also warn that trying to link normalization to an Iran peace arrangement could further complicate already fragile negotiations in the region.