Trump says Gulf States must normalise ties with Israel as Iran deal talks continue

US President Donald Trump has said Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations must normalise relations with Israel as part of broader efforts to secure a deal with Iran, adding a new layer of complexity to ongoing diplomatic negotiations.

In a post on his social media platform, Trump said countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey and Jordan should be required to join the Abraham Accords as part of any comprehensive regional settlement. The accords, brokered in 2020, already include the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.

“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,” he wrote.

Trump said he had recently spoken with leaders of several of the countries listed as part of efforts to end hostilities involving Iran, while insisting that any agreement would be either “great and meaningful” or no deal at all.

The renewed push comes as negotiations over a potential Iran deal continue, with both Washington and Tehran downplaying expectations of an imminent agreement. Iranian officials have maintained that while progress has been made on some issues, key disagreements remain unresolved.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier suggested a breakthrough could come within days, a comment that briefly boosted optimism in global markets before Iranian officials tempered expectations.

Tehran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said it was premature to suggest any final agreement was close, noting that major issues were still under discussion.

The developments have triggered mixed reactions across the Middle East, where several states have resisted normalisation with Israel without progress on the Palestinian question.

Analysts say the renewed US position could further complicate already fragile negotiations, as regional powers continue to balance diplomatic, security and economic interests amid shifting geopolitical pressures.