Former President Donald Trump said he believes Iran could join the Abraham Accords during a press briefing in Washington, D.C. [1, 2].
The statement suggests a potential shift in diplomatic strategy toward one of the region's most adversarial nations. If realized, such an agreement would expand the scope of the accords beyond the current signatories to include a major regional power.
Trump said the inclusion of Iran would be beneficial for the broader region. He said the goal is to further regional stability, and expand the benefits associated with the agreements [1, 2].
"I think Iran could join the Abraham Accords," Trump said [1].
Beyond the specific mention of Iran, the former president called for a wider adoption of the framework by other nations in the Middle East. He said collective participation is needed to ensure the success of the diplomatic effort.
"We need all countries in the region to come together under the Abraham Accords," Trump said [2].
The remarks, delivered June 20, 2024, come as the U.S. continues to navigate complex security dynamics in the Middle East. Trump's approach emphasizes the expansion of normalization agreements as a primary tool for reducing conflict—a strategy that defined much of his administration's foreign policy in the region.
“"I think Iran could join the Abraham Accords,"”
This statement signals a desire to pivot the Abraham Accords from a series of bilateral normalization deals into a comprehensive regional security architecture. Including Iran would represent a significant escalation in diplomatic ambition, as it would require overcoming deep-seated ideological and political hostilities between Iran, Israel, and several Arab states.
