Context:

During a visit to Saudi Arabia, President Trump expressed his commitment to reaching a deal with Iran, conditioned on Iran ceasing its support for terrorism, halting proxy wars, and ending its pursuit of nuclear weapons. He emphasized the significance of the Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations, and announced plans to expand this agreement to include more countries. Trump also mentioned the lifting of sanctions on Syria as a step towards normalizing relations and highlighted Lebanon's opportunity to rebuild free from Hezbollah's influence. The visit underscored Trump's vision of transforming the Middle East into a thriving commercial, diplomatic, and cultural hub. He concluded his speech by stressing the strategic importance of the region as a central crossroads of the world, with plans to further engage with key allies in the Gulf region.

Dive Deeper:

• President Trump articulated his desire to make a deal with Iran, contingent upon Iran stopping its support for terrorism, ending proxy wars, and verifiably ceasing its nuclear ambitions, stating, 'They cannot have a nuclear weapon.'

• The Abraham Accords, praised by Trump, were highlighted as a landmark agreement brokered by the U.S. in 2020, which normalized relations between Israel and UAE and Bahrain, marking the first peace with Arab countries since 1994.

• Trump announced plans to expand the Abraham Accords by including more countries, thereby continuing the progress of regional peace and cooperation.

• The lifting of sanctions on Syria was presented as a strategic move to normalize relations, with Trump meeting Syria’s Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa during his visit.

• In addressing Lebanon, Trump stated there was a 'once-in-a-generation opportunity' for the country to become prosperous and peaceful, free from the influence of Hezbollah, contingent on effective governance by its new leadership.

• Trump's vision for the Middle East includes transforming it into a thriving center for commerce, diplomacy, and culture, emphasizing the region's strategic geographical importance.

• The visit to Saudi Arabia is part of a broader Middle East tour aimed at reinforcing security cooperation and expanding economic ties with U.S. allies, with Qatar being the next stop on this tour.