President Donald Trump said Gulf allies must join the Abraham Accords before the U.S. moves forward with a nuclear deal with Iran [1].
This approach shifts the dynamics of Middle East diplomacy by making regional normalization a prerequisite for the resolution of the Iranian nuclear crisis. By tying these two separate geopolitical issues, the administration is leveraging U.S. security guarantees to expand the network of peace treaties between Israel and Muslim-majority nations.
Trump said this during a White House press briefing in Washington, D.C., on May 25, 2026 [1, 2]. He said that the expansion of the accords is necessary for the stability of the region and the success of any future agreements with Tehran [1].
"These countries owe it to us," Trump said [3].
The president said that the United States expects its partners in the Gulf to show greater commitment to the diplomatic framework established by the accords. He said that the current geopolitical environment requires a broader coalition of allies to ensure that any nuclear agreement with Iran remains durable [1, 2].
"We need more Muslim‑majority nations to join the Abraham Accords," Trump said [2].
The strategy places pressure on Gulf nations to formalize ties with Israel in exchange for U.S. diplomatic engagement with Iran. This transactional approach aims to accelerate the pace of normalization across the region, a goal the administration has pursued since the original accords were signed.
“"These countries owe it to us,"”
This policy represents a strategic pivot where the U.S. uses the Iranian nuclear threat as leverage to force regional integration. By framing the Abraham Accords as a debt owed by Gulf allies, the administration is attempting to create a unified regional front against Iran, effectively making Israeli-Arab normalization the price of admission for U.S. diplomatic concessions toward Tehran.
