Trump Talks Abraham Accord and Iran

On Sunday, former President Donald Trump spoke about his proposal to join the Abraham Accord amidst ongoing changes in the Middle East, suggesting that the United States and Israel have been taking steps to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, alluding to something like a “12-day war.”

“Our country is doing really well right now. Iran has been a central issue, so I think we’re preparing to confront them again,” he mentioned. He added, “There was a time when we thought Iran might actually join the Abraham Accord along with other nations. Honestly, that would have been a better situation for them.”

Potential Action Against Iran

Trump warned that if Iran attempts to rebuild its nuclear program, further action would be on the table. The Abraham Accord itself aimed to improve relations between Israel, Sunni Gulf nations, and those in North Africa, and was signed in the White House during Trump’s first term in September 2020.

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkov, mentioned recently that expanding this agreement is a key objective for the administration. He hinted at a “big announcement” involving countries soon expected to join the Accord.

Last week, White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt indicated that Syria is also being considered for partnership in the Accord. She explained that during a meeting with the new Syrian president, this was specifically requested.

Sanctions and Normalization with Syria

Trump noted his willingness to lift sanctions on Syria as part of an effort to normalize relations. “I’m not sure if they’ll actually join, but at the request of some neighboring countries we trust, I have decided to ease the sanctions. They’re pretty stringent and, yeah, we still have sanctions on Iran as well,” he remarked.

Eugene Kontrovich, a Middle Eastern expert from the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., commented recently that Syria’s new government is pursuing legitimacy and stands to gain significantly from these changes.