What Are the Abraham Accords? Trump's Condition for Iran and Arab Nations to Become Israel's Friends

Jakarta - US President Donald Trump has once again made a surprising move in Middle East geopolitics by citing the Abraham Accords as a ‘condition’ for peace between the US and Iran. In a Truth Social post, Trump expressed appreciation for Middle Eastern countries supporting regional peace efforts, mentioning that Arab nations, including Iran, would join the Abraham Accords. ‘I wish to thank all Middle Eastern countries for their support and cooperation thus far, which will be further enhanced and strengthened by their joining the historic Abraham Accords,’ he wrote, cited on Tuesday (26/5/2026). ‘And who knows, perhaps the Islamic Republic of Iran also wants to join!’ Trump wrote. The statement immediately drew global attention, as Iran has long been one of the most vocal opponents of Israel and its presence in the Arab world. Then, what are the Abraham Accords? The Abraham Accords are a historic diplomatic agreement signed in September 2020 at the White House in Washington, DC. Mediated by the Trump administration, the deal marked a new chapter in Israel’s relations with Arab and Muslim nations. The initial agreement was signed by Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain, with Sudan and Morocco later joining. The name ‘Abraham’ derives from the prophet Ibrahim, revered in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. The accord is seen as a symbol of efforts to foster interfaith coexistence and cooperation in the Middle East. The declaration emphasises the importance of peace, tolerance, interfaith dialogue, and economic and technological cooperation. ‘We believe the best way to address challenges is through cooperation and dialogue,’ reads one point from the declaration, cited from the White House website. Muslim Nations Become Israel’s ‘Friends’ The Abraham Accords represent a major shift in Middle Eastern politics. For decades, most Arab nations refused to recognise Israel in solidarity with Palestine. However, through this accord, several Muslim nations have established formal diplomatic ties with Israel, including direct flights, trade, investment, and cooperation in technology and healthcare. The UAE, for instance, now has close economic ties with Israel across strategic sectors such as energy, water technology, artificial intelligence, and defence. This move is also viewed as a US strategy to build a new regional bloc amid rivalry with Iran, according to analysts at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a prominent international relations think tank. The US aims to use the Abraham Accords as a framework for political, economic, and security coordination between Israel, Gulf states, and other regional partners, to maintain American influence while reducing the need for direct military intervention. ‘The latest conflicts have exposed the weakness of the longstanding Gulf-US dependency, prompting Washington to seek a more flexible format,’ said the analyst. Iran Could Join? Trump himself has floated the idea of Iran joining. Should Iran change course, it would mark one of the largest geopolitical shifts in the region’s modern history. Although Trump has sent signals, the possibility remains highly unlikely. Iran remains Israel’s primary regional adversary, consistently refusing to recognise Israel and supporting anti-Israel groups across the Middle East. Citing the Washington Post, analysts view the ‘Iran joining the Abraham Accords’ discussion as diplomatic pressure and a political message from the US, rather than an imminent development. There are currently no official signals that Tehran is ready to change its stance.