World
President Says More Countries Should Be Required to Recognize Israel in Iran War Deal; Analysts See Minimal Chance
📅 May 28, 2026 09:40 ET
⏱ 2 min
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GazetaDay Editorial
Analysts assess the likelihood of President Trump’s proposal to expand mandatory recognition of Israel as part of a settlement to end the war with Iran as close to zero. The president’s statement calls for broader normalization agreements beyond the existing Abraham Accords framework as a condition for resolving the Iran conflict.
Trump’s Demand for Expanded Recognition
The president specified that more countries should be required to recognize Israel as a component of any deal to terminate hostilities with Iran. This condition extends the concept of normalization agreements that began with the Abraham Accords in 2020, which saw the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco establish diplomatic ties with Israel.
Analysts’ Assessment of Feasibility
Regional peace process experts and Middle East analysts describe the chances of achieving such broad mandatory recognition as close to zero. The assessment reflects deep skepticism about compelling additional nations—particularly Gulf states and others with significant populations sympathetic to the Palestinian issue—to formalize relations with Israel under the pressure of a war settlement.
Iran Conflict Resolution Context
The war with Iran has created complex dynamics among regional powers. Gulf states have maintained cautious positions, balancing security cooperation with the United States and Israel against domestic and regional political sensitivities surrounding the Palestinian issue. Mandating recognition of Israel as a condition for ending the conflict with Iran would represent a significant escalation of diplomatic demands beyond current negotiations.
Broader Normalization Efforts Stalled
Since the original Abraham Accords, efforts to expand normalization agreements have faced obstacles. Saudi Arabia, widely seen as the most consequential potential addition, has repeatedly linked normalization to progress on Palestinian statehood. The president’s latest call appears to ignore these longstanding conditions, which analysts say further reduces the realistic prospect of implementation.
Similar Cases
In 2020, the Trump administration secured the Abraham Accords by offering incentives including arms sales and security guarantees, but did not require recognition as a precondition for ending other regional conflicts. Similarly, the 1994 Jordan-Israel peace treaty resulted from bilateral negotiations and international mediation, not from mandatory recognition imposed within a separate war settlement framework.
Abraham AccordsDonald TrumpIranIsraelMiddle East diplomacywar settlementrecognition