A new order in West Asia? Donald Trump propels Islamic nations to join Abraham Accords

After nearly 4 months of intense conflict between the United States and Iran, which saw the Strait of Hormuz paralysed leading to a severe global energy crisis that sent the oil prices skyrocketing and maritime trade into a tailspin, the two nations might finally be inching towards a deal.

But now, the US President has set sights on a new goal— the restructuring of the West Asian regions.

Donald Trump got on conference call with leaders from several Arab and Muslim majority countries where he shared a new paradigm in the ongoing peace efforts: If Iran deal reaches fruition, other nations too must recognise Israel and sign the Abraham Accords.

This new 'demand' caught everyone off guard. One of the US officials claim there silence on the line from all ends until Trump joked, "Is anyone still there?" Axios reported.

On Saturday, he held a phone call with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain to discuss the emerging deal with Iran.

It was during this call when Trump dropped his latest plans for West Asia and expects countries that still do not recognise Israel to move towards normalising ties with it.

"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," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Currently,  Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan do not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel.

Iran to sign the Abraham Accords?

Trump also went on and floated the idea of Iran joining the Abraham Accords one day. However, Tehran has vehemently refused to recognise Israel and sign the accords.

Last year, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, "Iran will never recognise an occupied regime that has committed genocide and killed children".

Will Saudi come on board?

Trump may also face issues with getting Saudi Arabia on board his latest plans.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had expressed willingness to normalize relations with Israel. But off late, with the ongoing war in Gaza and heightened tensions due to the US-Iran conflict, the idea has taken a back foot.

Last year, talks turned tense when Trump asked bin Salman to join the Abraham Accords during their Oval Office meeting.

The Iran war and Saudi Arabia's rift with the UAE have pushed the Kingdom to take a more skeptical and tough position towards Israel's far-right government.

What are the Abraham Accords?

During Trump's first term, the US brokered a series of agreements to normalize relations between Israel and several states with Muslim-majority populations.

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain were the first Arab nations to sign the deal and to recognise Israel as a state since Jordan in 1994.

Trup new 'demand' marks a shift in hitherto paradigm of West Asia. For years, most Arab states had refused to recognise existence of Israel until the Palestinian issue was resolved.