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President Donald Trump told leaders from several Arab nations during a weekend conference call that he expects broader normalization with Israel if a diplomatic agreement ending the conflict with Iran is reached, according to two U.S. officials cited by Axios.
The Saturday call included leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain.
The president reportedly used the discussion to push for expanding the Abraham Accords as a central part of his Middle East strategy following a resolution of the Iran conflict.
According to U.S. officials, President Trump specifically encouraged countries that do not currently recognize Israel to consider establishing diplomatic relations after the war concludes.
The administration’s broader goal is believed to center largely on securing a long-sought normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, though ongoing regional tensions and upcoming Israeli elections remain major obstacles.
The call primarily focused on diplomatic efforts involving Iran. Several leaders, including UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reportedly expressed support for negotiations despite differing views within the region about how aggressively to confront Tehran.
“They all said, ‘We are with you on this deal. And if it doesn’t work we will be with you too,’” one U.S. official told Axios.
Officials said President Trump specifically pressed countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan, to move toward normalizing relations with Israel, though the request reportedly received little response during the call.
President Trump later told participants that senior advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would continue discussions on potential diplomatic steps in the coming weeks.
The president also publicly referenced the issue Sunday in a post on Truth Social, writing that cooperation among Middle Eastern nations “will be further enhanced and strengthened by their joining the nations of the historic Abraham Accords.”
The president additionally suggested Iran itself could eventually join the accords, which would require Tehran to formally recognize Israel, a step Iran’s government has long rejected.
