Trump asked Muslim leaders to join Abraham Accords after Iran war ends – Axios
President Trump told leaders of several Arab and other Muslim countries during a Saturday conference call that if a deal to end the Iran war is reached, he wants their nations to sign peace agreements with Israel, Axios reported, citing two U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the call.
Trump is primarily aiming for a historic Saudi-Israeli peace deal, but the current regional political climate and upcoming Israeli elections make any near-term breakthrough unlikely.
On Saturday, he spoke with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain about the emerging Iran deal. Leaders including UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, who has taken a more hawkish stance on the Iran war, expressed support. “They all said we are with you on this deal. And if it doesn’t work we will be with you too,” a U.S. official said.
Trump reportedly said that after the war ends, he expects countries not yet part of the Abraham Accords to join and normalize relations with Israel. Some leaders, especially from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan, were surprised, with one official saying there was silence on the line before Trump joked and asked if they were still there.
Trump said Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would follow up in the coming weeks.
He also floated the idea of Iran joining the accords, which would require Tehran to recognize Israel, something it has long refused as it views Israel as an enemy.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had previously shown openness to normalization but has since cooled. He pushed back when Trump raised the issue in an Oval Office meeting last November, which became tense.
The Iran war and Saudi tensions with the UAE have pushed Riyadh toward a more cautious stance on Israel’s right-wing government. Saudi Arabia still demands Israel commit to an irreversible, time-bound path toward a Palestinian state, which Israel rejects. U.S. and Israeli officials believe Riyadh will avoid any moves before Israel’s September elections and the formation of a new government.
