President Donald Trump has urged leaders of several Arab and Muslim-majority countries to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel if a proposed deal to end the conflict with Iran is successfully concluded.
Eko Hot News reports that The message was delivered during a weekend conference call involving leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain, according to U.S. officials familiar with the discussion.
The call reportedly underscored Trump’s intention to expand the Abraham Accords as a key pillar of his Middle East strategy following any resolution of the Iran conflict.
U.S. officials said Trump specifically encouraged countries without formal ties to Israel to consider joining the accords after the end of the conflict .
The proposal is seen as part of a broader diplomatic push to secure a long-sought normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
However, officials noted that regional tensions and upcoming Israeli elections later this year remain major obstacles to any immediate breakthrough.
Discussions during the call focused largely on efforts to reach an emerging diplomatic agreement with Iran.
Several leaders, including United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reportedly expressed support for the initiative while maintaining differing regional positions on Iran.
One U.S. official said the leaders collectively indicated conditional backing for Trump’s diplomatic efforts.
When Trump raised the issue of normalization with Israel, particularly addressing Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan, officials said the request was met with silence.
Another official noted that Trump briefly joked during the call, asking whether all participants were still connected after the silence.
The President later said that senior advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would continue diplomatic engagements in the coming weeks.
Trump also reinforced his position in a post on Truth Social, stating that cooperation in the Middle East would be strengthened through expanded participation in the Abraham Accords.
He further suggested that even Iran could eventually be considered for inclusion, although such a move would require Tehran to recognize Israel, a long-standing political barrier.
Saudi Arabia remains the central focus of Washington’s diplomatic push toward normalization with Israel.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously shown openness to dialogue, but Saudi Arabia has recently hardened its position due to the ongoing Gaza conflict and regional tensions.
Saudi officials are reportedly insisting that Israel commit to a clear and irreversible pathway toward Palestinian statehood before any diplomatic agreement can be reached.
Israeli leadership has rejected those conditions, creating further deadlock in negotiations.
U.S. and Israeli officials believe Saudi Arabia is unlikely to make any formal move before Israel’s upcoming elections in September and the formation of a new government.
Eko Hot News notes that the development highlights ongoing geopolitical efforts to reshape alliances in the Middle East amid heightened regional tensions.
