US President Donald Trump has urged Arab and Muslim-majority countries to establish diplomatic relations with Israel if a potential agreement to end the Iran conflict is reached, according to two US officials familiar with the discussions.
Trump made the appeal during a joint phone call on Saturday with leaders from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain to discuss a possible settlement involving Iran.
The remarks signaled Trump’s intention to push for a broader expansion of the Abraham Accords after the conflict, including what he hopes would become a landmark Saudi-Israeli peace agreement.
According to a US official, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and several other leaders expressed support for the potential agreement with Iran. The official quoted them as saying they would stand with Washington regardless of whether the initiative succeeds.
Trump reportedly informed the leaders that he would also speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and expressed hope that the Israeli leader would eventually join similar discussions.
Two US officials said Trump made clear that countries which have not yet joined the Abraham Accords or signed peace agreements with Israel should do so once the Iran conflict ends.
However, leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan — all of which do not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Israel — were said to be surprised by Trump’s request. One official described a brief silence on the call after the proposal was raised, prompting Trump to jokingly ask whether everyone was still on the line.
Trump later wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that he appreciated the support and cooperation of Middle Eastern countries and said such cooperation would grow stronger through expansion of the Abraham Accords.
He also floated the possibility that Iran could one day join the accords, although Tehran has long refused to recognize Israel and continues to regard the country as an enemy.
US Senator Lindsey Graham backed Trump’s proposal, saying that broader Arab and Muslim participation in the Abraham Accords could make it one of the most influential diplomatic arrangements in Middle Eastern history.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had previously shown interest in normalizing relations with Israel, but Riyadh’s position has hardened over the past year amid the regional conflict and disagreements over Palestinian statehood.
Saudi officials continue to insist that any normalization deal must include irreversible and time-bound commitments toward the creation of a Palestinian state — a condition the current Israeli government has rejected.
Israeli and US officials believe Riyadh is unlikely to move forward on the issue before Israel’s upcoming September elections and the formation of a new government.
