Trump demands Middle East leaders sign Abraham Accords amid Iran negotiations

Announcing that talks with Iran were "proceeding nicely," President Donald Trump sought to expand the Abraham Accords' signatories in a Truth Social post. Naming Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the President said that it "should be mandatory" for Middle Eastern allies to sign the Accords, and extended a similar invitation to Iran as well. "The Abraham Accords have proven to be, for the Countries involved (The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and Kazakhstan), a Financial, Economic, and Social BOOM, even during this time of Conflict and War, with the current Members never even suggesting leaving, or taking so much as even a pause," Trump wrote, calling "the agreement the most important Deal that any of these Great, but always in Conflict Countries, will ever sign."

The President also warned that signing the accords would be mandatory for those regional nations as part of a final deal with Iran. "If they don't (sign the agreement), they should not be part of this Deal in that it shows bad intention," Trump wrote, adding, "In speaking to numerous of the Great Leaders mentioned above, they would be honored, as soon as our Document is signed, to have the Islamic Republic of Iran as part of the Abraham Accords." The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, remain one of President Trump's most significant geopolitical victories after the UAE and Bahrain became the first Arab Nations to recognise the state of Israel since 1994.

"The...Abraham Accords have been great for them, and will be even better for everybody, and bring true Power, Strength, and Peace to the Middle East for the first time in 5,000 years. It will be a Document respected like no other that has ever been signed, anywhere in the World. Its level of Importance and Prestige will be unparalleled! It should start with the immediate signing by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and everybody else should follow suit," Trump said. 

The President's statements come after he asked U.S. representatives "not to rush into a deal," while asserting that ongoing talks remained "constructive." He, however, cautioned that "both sides must take their time and get it right." According to reports, the new deal with Iran is expected to open the Strait of Hormuz and discuss options for denuclearization. Iran, however, plans to seek joint control of the strait with Oman, as per Iran's state-backed news agency, ISNA. 

According to The Guardian, the proposed deal reportedly offers Iran sanctions relief and unfreezing of $20 billion worth of assets in return for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the critical crude oil shipping lane, and for negotiating its nuclear program over the next 60 days, starting June 5. The publication noted that at least $6 billion of the frozen assets are held by Qatar, and the center of the delay is the U.S. demand for the handover of the assets in exchange for conditional progress made in the handover of Iran's enriched uranium.