During a recent phone call, President Donald Trump reportedly pressured leaders from several Muslim-majority nations, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Turkey, and Egypt, to normalize ties with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords, akin to the deals already struck by the UAE and Bahrain. This initiative, seen as Trump's next significant Middle East move, was met with surprise and silence from leaders of countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which do not currently have diplomatic relations with Israel, though Saudi Arabia has previously hinted at openness to normalization contingent on the formation of a Palestinian state. Trump's push, which he suggested would be followed up by advisors Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, even extended to the possibility of Iran joining the Accords, a notion previously rejected by Iranian officials who condemned Israel's actions.

During a recent phone call, President Donald Trump reportedly pressured leaders from several Muslim-majority nations, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Turkey, and Egypt, to normalize ties with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords, akin to the deals already struck by the UAE and Bahrain. This initiative, seen as Trump's next significant Middle East move, was met with surprise and silence from leaders of countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which do not currently have diplomatic relations with Israel, though Saudi Arabia has previously hinted at openness to normalization contingent on the formation of a Palestinian state. Trump's push, which he suggested would be followed up by advisors Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, even extended to the possibility of Iran joining the Accords, a notion previously rejected by Iranian officials who condemned Israel's actions.

During a recent phone call, President Donald Trump reportedly pressured leaders from several Muslim-majority nations, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Turkey, and Egypt, to normalize ties with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords, akin to the deals already struck by the UAE and Bahrain. This initiative, seen as Trump's next significant Middle East move, was met with surprise and silence from leaders of countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which do not currently have diplomatic relations with Israel, though Saudi Arabia has previously hinted at openness to normalization contingent on the formation of a Palestinian state. Trump's push, which he suggested would be followed up by advisors Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, even extended to the possibility of Iran joining the Accords, a notion previously rejected by Iranian officials who condemned Israel's actions.

US President Donald Trump on Monday insisted six Muslim nations to join the Abraham Accords and normalise ties with Israel ahead of the likely deal between Washington and Tehran. These include Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan and Egypt.

"Negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran are proceeding nicely! It will only be a Great Deal for all or, no Deal at all," Trump announced on Truth Social on Monday. "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."

The expansion of the accords "should start with the immediate signing by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and everybody else should follow suit," said Trump. He added that countries that do not sign would not be involved in any deal with Iran as "it shows bad intention."

This comes two days after President Trump put several Muslim leaders in a rather uncomfortable position when he asked them to normalise ties with Israel once a deal is reached on Iran war.

During the Saturday phone call, Trump also pushed countries like Saudi Arabia to ink a historic peace agreement in line with the Abraham Accords, according to US officials. The mercurial US president reportedly sees this as his next big move in the Middle East.

The leaders with whom Trump spoke on Saturday included those from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt. The UAE and Bahrain are already signatories to the Accords. However, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar do not have any ties with Israel.

Trump urged them to join the Abraham Accords but the Muslim leaders were surprised and silent. “There was silence on the line, and Trump joked and asked if they were still there,” Axios quoted a US official as saying.

However, Pakistan has found itself in a difficult position, especially as its government is trying to project the nation as a global peacemaker as it mediates a deal between the US and Iran. It remains to be seen how Trump's favourite field marshal Asim Munir and PM Shehbaz Sharif choose to respond to a subject that is sure to provoke the Pakistani public sentiment. Islamabad has always backed a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, which was evident when former PM Imran Khan opted not to join the Abraham Accords during his regime.

Trump said his advisor Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff would follow up on the issue in the coming weeks.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had earlier hinted that the kingdom is open to normalisation with Israel, but Riyadh took a harder stance after the Gaza war broke out in 2023. Saudi is now seeking the formation of a Palestinian state before normalisation can happen.

On Sunday, Trump even suggested that Iran too might join the Accords.

"I would like to thank, thus far, all of the countries of the Middle East for their support and cooperation, which will be further enhanced and strengthened by their joining the Nations of the historic Abraham Accords and, who knows, perhaps the Islamic Republic of Iran would like to join, as well!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Back in 2025, Trump made a similar suggestion about Iran. At that time, foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said, "Iran will never recognise an occupied regime that has committed genocide and killed children."

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