The United States military confirmed on Monday that it executed what it described as 'self-defense' strikes in southern Iran, specifically targeting missile launch sites and boats engaged in laying mines. U.S. Central Command stated that the operations were undertaken 'to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces' while emphasizing that 'restraint is being exercised during the ongoing ceasefire.'
Trump Links Iran Deal to Abraham Accords Expansion
President Donald Trump declared on Monday that any agreement to conclude the Iran war should incorporate a requirement for several additional nations, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, to join the Abraham Accords—the U.S.-brokered agreements from his first term aimed at normalizing relations with Israel. In a social media post, Trump noted that negotiations are 'proceeding nicely' but tied any eventual deal to expanded participation in the 2020 accords.
Republican Criticism and Diplomatic Hurdles
The proposal emerged as the developing Iran deal faced criticism from fellow Republicans who advocate a more stringent stance on Iran, potentially introducing fresh diplomatic complexities to the talks. Trump specifically mentioned Saudi Arabia and Qatar as countries that should 'immediately' sign on, alongside Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan. Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates were the first to join in 2020.
Trump wrote that 'after all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords.'
Regional Implications and Reactions
Trump has long aspired for Saudi Arabia to join, but the kingdom has maintained that any normalization deal requires a clear path for Palestinian statehood. This condition is also pivotal for Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. Islamabad-based analyst Syed Mohammad Ali stated that Pakistan's position on Israel remains unchanged despite Trump's latest proposal.
The president indicated that he raised the Abraham Accords plan with leaders during negotiations on Saturday. He expressed willingness to accept 'one or two' countries declining to sign, but asserted that most should be willing. Egypt and Jordan already formally recognize Israel and have longstanding peace treaties, while Turkey first recognized Israel in 1949.
Expert Perspectives
Masood Khan, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States, noted that it remains uncertain how workable the proposal might be for the listed countries. 'The invocation of the Abraham Accords at this stage gives an altogether new dimension to the diplomatic and mediatory processes because this issue was not on the agenda,' he said, pointing to the domestic pressure Trump faces to secure a favorable deal.
Nevertheless, Khan added, 'the diplomatic track is still working, and I believe Pakistan is very much at the center of it, supported by regional countries.'
Uncertain Path Forward
It remains unclear when or how any deal with Iran might be finalized. Trump suggested that even Iran could eventually sign on to the accords if an agreement is reached. The Abraham Accords consist of a series of diplomatic, economic, and security agreements brokered with U.S. influence during Trump’s first term, initially between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, followed by Sudan, Morocco, and most recently, Kazakhstan. They were framed as an effort to promote cooperation among countries in the Middle East and North Africa, and the administration viewed them as partly paving the way toward full ties with Israel.
