Trump requires Gulf states to normalize with Israel for peace deal with Iran

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called on leaders from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel. Trump presented this as a condition tied to achieving a peace agreement with Iran.

Trump stated that the participation of these nations in normalizing ties with Israel should be a "mandatory" step, or at least occur concurrently with any potential deal with Tehran. He framed this as a reward for the significant efforts the United States has undertaken to foster stability and cooperation in a region often marked by conflict and geopolitical rivalry.

While acknowledging that one or two countries might have reservations, Trump expressed confidence that most of the listed nations would be willing to support normalization with Israel. He believes this move would significantly enhance the impact of any agreement reached with Iran, making it a more historic event. Trump cited the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and Kazakhstan as examples of countries that have already joined the Abraham Accords.

According to Trump, the Abraham Accords have already yielded substantial economic and social benefits for the participating countries, including a "boom" in financial growth and social development, even amidst ongoing regional conflicts. He asserted that no member country has shown any intention of withdrawing from the agreements. The Abraham Accords, launched by Trump in 2020, saw the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan normalize relations with Israel in exchange for U.S. economic and military aid. This initiative contrasts with the broader Arab Peace Initiative, which requires Israel's full withdrawal from occupied territories and the establishment of a Palestinian state for full normalization with Arab nations.