Trump demands Arab nations join Abraham Accords to seal Iran deal

2 months ago

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Former US President Donald Trump has linked a potential peace deal with Iran to a mandatory expansion of the Abraham Accords by Muslim-majority nations. The new demand was made as a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran to end hostilities appears to be progressing.

In a social media post, Trump asserted that it should be “mandatory” for countries involved in the Iran peace efforts to simultaneously sign the normalization agreements with Israel. He specifically named Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, and Jordan, while noting the existing membership of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. He emphasized that the process should begin with the “immediate signing by Saudi Arabia and Qatar,” adding that nations that do not join should not be part of the Iran deal as it would show “bad intention.”

US Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, endorsed the move, calling it “brilliant” and warning of “severe repercussions” for future relationships with countries that refuse to join. Graham stated that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan joining the accords would be “beyond transformative for the region and world.”

While Pakistani officials have not issued a fresh statement, the Foreign Office’s established position is that any normalization is contingent on the creation of a viable, contiguous Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Pakistan has been mediating the US-Iran talks, with Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir recently holding high-level meetings in Tehran that reportedly resulted in “encouraging progress” toward a final agreement.

Latest Updates

Updated: 6:34 PM PKT — May 26, 2026

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has condemned former US President Donald Trump’s demand that Muslim nations must join the Abraham Accords as part of any peace deal with Iran, calling the accords a “document of surrender.” In a statement from Lahore, he asserted that Trump was “twisting the arms” of Muslim countries and that the “usurping decision” to legitimize Israeli occupation of Jerusalem would not be accepted. He called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to publicly announce Pakistan’s rejection of the demand.

Updated: 4:25 PM PKT — May 26, 2026

An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson has confirmed that a framework agreement with the US has been reached but stated a final deal is not “very close.” The spokesperson credited mediation by Pakistan and other countries for the recent progress, which is focused on ending the war and a US naval blockade. Meanwhile, a White House official also indicated a deal was not imminent, suggesting it could take days for Iranian leadership to grant approval.

This comes as US President Donald Trump has reportedly spoken with several regional leaders, including Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. While Trump has publicly pushed for Muslim nations to sign the Abraham Accords, media reports citing sources suggest the topic was raised casually and not as a precondition for the Iran deal. Saudi Arabia has reiterated that any normalization of ties with Israel remains conditional on the establishment of a Palestinian state.