US President Donald Trump has reportedly asked Arab and Muslim leaders to normalize relations with Israel if he secures a deal to end the Iran war, Axios reported.
The report said Trump made the request in a phone call on Saturday with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain. According to US officials, the leaders supported the deal effort, but the request regarding relations with Israel was met with silence.
Trump also made the point in a post on his Truth Social account, saying that the deal he is pursuing would be “good and right,” and that he hopes that countries that have not previously had relations with Israel will join the so-called Abraham Accords. He even said that Iran “may” have relations with Israel in the future.
The report comes amid growing concerns within Israel about the expected deal. Israeli media quoted senior officials as saying that the deal currently on the table “is not in Israel’s interest,” as it does not explicitly address Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, as well as Tehran’s support for armed groups in the region.
Israeli officials fear that the deal could give Iran time to recover economically and militarily, making it harder to return to war or military pressure in the future. The expected agreement is said to begin with a 60-day ceasefire.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that such a deal could not be reached “in 72 hours,” noting that negotiations are still ongoing.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham supported Trump’s plan, saying that if Arab and Muslim countries join the Abraham Accords, it could be “one of the most influential agreements in the history of the Middle East.” Graham also warned that countries that refuse to have relations with Israel could face “severe political consequences” affecting their relations with Washington.
