Trump to Gulf States: No Agreement with Iran Without Normalization with Israel
Trump links any deal with Iran to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries normalizing relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords
NYN | Reports and Analyses
U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked widespread controversy following remarks made at the White House in which he linked progress toward any agreement with Iran to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states joining the normalization process with Israel under what are known as the “Abraham Accords.”
According to a widely circulated video from inside the White House, Trump was seen asking his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, about efforts aimed at encouraging Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar to sign normalization agreements with Israel.
According to the video, Witkoff confirmed that he continues to work and apply pressure in that direction. Trump then responded by stating that the signing of any agreement with Iran would be conditional upon those countries joining the normalization accords, arguing that they were “indebted” to the United States on this matter.
These remarks come amid intensive diplomatic activity across the region, alongside discussions of possible understandings between Washington and Tehran regarding a number of regional and international issues.
Observers believe that Trump’s statements reflect the continued U.S. approach of linking regional security issues and de-escalation efforts with Iran to the broader project of expanding Arab normalization with Israel. They argue that such a policy could introduce new complexities into the region’s political landscape.
No official statements have yet been issued by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or Qatar regarding the reported remarks. Meanwhile, analysts are closely monitoring the potential implications of these positions for the future of regional relations and the course of the ongoing negotiations.
