Trump Demands Saudi Arabia Join Abraham Accords to Secure Civilian Nuclear Deal
US President Donald Trump reiterated his ultimatum that Saudi Arabia must join the Abraham Accords for any civilian nuclear agreement to proceed. Speaking at a White House press conference on Friday, Trump emphasized that the Abraham Accords have been a "very great success" and insisted, "If Saudi Arabia does not join the Abraham Accords, there will be no deal." This statement came amid rising tensions and exchanges of fire with Iran, with Trump noting that Iran is becoming more serious about negotiations but that the US remains "alert and charged" for potential military action.
In parallel, according to the New York Times, Trump convened a meeting with senior advisors and cabinet members to decide whether to escalate the military campaign against Iran. This discussion followed the collapse of a ceasefire and memorandum aimed at resuming talks between Washington and Tehran. The deliberations are influenced by new US intelligence assessments indicating that Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, is more intent than his predecessor on advancing nuclear weapons development.
While Mojtaba Khamenei has not publicly called for building a nuclear bomb, US intelligence agencies believe he and the hardline government formed after the elimination of many regime leaders are committed to developing advanced nuclear arms. This marks a shift from the previous leader, Ali Khamenei, who was perceived as more hesitant about pursuing an actual nuclear weapon, despite longstanding US claims that Iran sought to maintain nuclear weapons capability.
Trump's firm stance on Saudi Arabia's participation in the Abraham Accords and the potential for increased military action against Iran highlight the administration's strategic approach to regional security and nuclear non-proliferation in the Middle East.
