Chicago – May 25, 2026
President Donald Trump said any deal with Iran should be tied to more countries joining the Abraham Accords, underscoring his push to widen Arab and Muslim normalization with Israel. He said negotiations with Tehran are “proceeding nicely,” but argued that a broader agreement should require additional signatories.
Trump singled out Saudi Arabia and Qatar for immediate participation, then named Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan as other countries he wants to sign on. He also said he had raised the idea with regional leaders during weekend talks. Pakistan has already rejected this proposal.
The Abraham Accords, first signed in 2020, established diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, later joined by Sudan and Morocco. Trump suggested the framework could eventually include Iran as well, though he said it remains unclear when any Iran deal would be completed.
The proposal reflects Trump’s effort to link nuclear diplomacy with a broader regional realignment. It also raises fresh questions about whether Arab states would be willing to normalize ties with Israel while tensions over Iran remain unresolved.
