US president eyes Saudi Arabia as key to expanding Abraham Accords

US President Donald Trump has expressed optimism about the imminent expansion of the Abraham Accords, indicating that more Arab nations may soon normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.

In an interview aired on Fox Business Network, Trump said he believes Saudi Arabia will soon join the pact — a move he claims would trigger a broader regional alignment, Caliber.Az reports.

"I hope to see Saudi Arabia go in, and I hope to see others go in. I think when Saudi Arabia goes in, everybody goes in," Trump stated.

The president revealed that he has held “some very good conversations” as recently as October 15 with leaders of countries expressing interest in joining the accords. “I think that they're going to all go in very soon,” he added.

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed the accords in 2020 during Trump's first term in the White House, breaking a longstanding taboo to become the first Arab states to recognize Israel in a quarter century. Morocco and Sudan followed suit.

Trump, who convened a summit of Muslim and European leaders in Egypt earlier this week to discuss the future of Gaza, has positioned his latest peace initiative as a catalyst for a wider settlement in the Middle East. His plan to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza includes provisions for regional cooperation and reconstruction.

Significantly, Trump floated the prospect of a peace deal between Israel and Iran — longtime adversaries — suggesting it might not be as far-fetched as it seems. Speaking to the Israeli parliament, he remarked, "Wouldn't it be nice?" and claimed that Iran “wants” peace.

By Vafa Guliyeva