Trump pushes Saudis to recognise Israel as part of Iran deal

[WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump stepped up pressure on Saudi Arabia and Qatar to recognise Israel by joining the Abraham Accords, saying it would complement an interim peace deal he’s negotiating with Iran.

The Abraham Accords are a set of agreements that established diplomatic normalisation between Israel and several Arab states, beginning with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Talks with Iran are “proceeding nicely,” Trump said on Truth Social on Monday (May 25). He added that “to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords.”

He also listed Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan. The latter three formally recognise Israel but aren’t part of the Abraham Accords.

“It should start with the immediate signing by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and everybody else should follow suit,” he said. “If they don’t, they should not be part of this deal in that it shows bad intention,” he added, referring to the potential Iran agreement.

His comments may be a way of appeasing Iran hawks in the US, such as Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who have warned Trump not to make any concessions to the Iranians.

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The Saudis and Qataris didn’t immediately respond to Trump’s remarks. But they have said they will only recognise Israel if it agrees to Palestinian statehood.

Trump, in his long, roughly 550-word post, also said Iran could join the Abraham Accords. That is highly unlikely as long as the theocratic regime of the Islamic Republic, which calls for the destruction of the Jewish state, remains in power.

“Wow, now that would be something special!” Trump said of Iran being part the accords. BLOOMBERG