President Donald Trump disclosed in a leaked phone conversation with Arab leaders his condition for agreeing to a peace deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He insisted that Arab nations must establish normalized relations with Israel for the settlement to proceed.
The discussion occurred during a conference call involving the US president and influential leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt. Trump urged the leaders to mend ties with Israel, leaving them in stunned silence without an immediate response.
Following a significant pause, Trump humorously asked, “Are they still there?” He then mentioned that his envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, would engage in discussions regarding Israel normalization in the upcoming weeks.
As a result of the call, peace talks between the US and Iran faced obstacles on Monday due to disagreements over Tehran’s uranium reserves and the release of Iranian assets. Despite ongoing negotiations, Trump issued a warning on his Truth Social platform, emphasizing a tough stance if a favorable deal is not reached.
While Trump expressed optimism about the ongoing negotiations with Iran, he cautioned that failure to secure an agreement could lead to US forces returning to the battlefield with increased strength. Iran’s National Security Council, in response, emphasized their commitment to resistance against the US.
In parallel developments, two senior Iranian officials visited Doha to discuss a potential peace agreement with the US. The talks also included negotiations for the release of frozen assets, with Trump suggesting that Iran’s participation in the Abraham Accords would be significant.
Trump stressed the importance of all countries endorsing the Abraham Accords simultaneously, highlighting the efforts made by the United States to foster diplomatic relations in the region.