Trump cannot use Abraham Accords to sell a bad Iran deal

Former US President Donald Trump is linking a potential war-ending agreement with Iran to the expansion of the Abraham Accords, suggesting that countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait should recognize Israel. Trump stated that he is "not sure we should make the deal [with Iran] if they don't sign."

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I think they owe that to us, to be honest.

The author, David M. Weinberg, strongly disagrees with this approach. He argues that any progress in normalizing ties between Israel and Arab nations cannot sugarcoat or justify a "bad deal" with Iran. Such a deal, he contends, might allow the Iranian regime to retain much of its enriched uranium and nuclear production facilities, while also providing significant financial relief and leaving it in de facto control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Weinberg asserts that neither Israeli nor Arab leaders are easily fooled by diplomatic gestures. He believes that handshakes on the White House lawn will not be seen as a sufficient conclusion to the US military campaign against Iran. Instead, he calls for Trump to "more decisively crush Iran, period." Only after the Iranian regime's collapse, he suggests, could additional Abraham Accords treaties be viewed as positive developments.

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I’m not sure we should make the deal [with Iran] if they don’t sign.

The article emphasizes that Iran's hegemonic ambitions in the Middle East, its intimidation of Western allies, and its threats against Israel are the primary strategic concerns. While acknowledging that recent US and Israeli operations have significantly curbed Iran's influence, Weinberg insists the job is incomplete. He believes the collapse of the clerical system in Tehran is within reach through continued military and economic pressure.

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Trump must more decisively crush Iran, period.