Trump Shows Flexibility on Iran’s Nuclear Stockpile, Links Deal to Major Expansion of Abraham Accords
From Our Foreign Desk
President Donald Trump has signalled a more pragmatic stance on handling Iran’s enriched uranium while tying any potential nuclear agreement to a significant expansion of the Abraham Accords, aiming to reshape Middle East alliances and security architecture.
In a Truth Social post, Trump stated that Iran’s enriched uranium — which he dramatically called “Nuclear Dust!” — could either be shipped to the United States for destruction or, preferably, eliminated inside Iran or at another acceptable location under international supervision.
“The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, being witness to this process and event,” Trump wrote.
This represents a notable softening from his earlier hardline position demanding full transfer of the stockpile to the U.S. as a core condition for any deal.
Linking Nuclear Talks to Regional Normalization Trump said on Monday that negotiations with
Iran are progressing “nicely” and urged all involved countries to simultaneously join the Abraham Accords — the landmark normalization agreements between Israel and Arab/Muslim states originally brokered during his first term.
He described it as an “honour” to potentially have Iran as a signatory, while stating that participation in the Accords should be a baseline requirement for countries engaged in the peace process.
“After all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords,” Trump said. He added that limited exceptions could be made for one or
two nations with valid reasons.
Key targets for expansion include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, and Jordan. The UAE and Bahrain are already members.
A Clear Break from the JCPOA Trump forcefully rejected comparisons to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) negotiated under President Barack Obama, calling any new agreement the “exact opposite.”
“The deal with Iran will either be a great and meaningful one, or there will be no deal. It will be the exact opposite of the JCPOA disaster… which was a direct and open path to a Nuclear Weapon for Iran,” he said.
He reiterated an all-or-nothing approach: “It will only be a Great Deal for all or, no Deal at all — Back to the Battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before.”
Potential Impact of Abraham Accords Expansion If successful, incorporating additional major
powers into the Abraham Accords alongside an Iran deal could trigger significant geopolitical and economic shifts.
Analysts note that expansion would likely strengthen a U.S.-backed anti-Iran coalition through deeper intelligence sharing, joint defense cooperation, and formal deterrence against Iranian proxies. Economically, it could unlock substantial new trade, investment, and technology partnerships — building on the billions in Israel-UAE commerce already generated — while fostering joint infrastructure and energy projects across the region.
However, challenges remain substantial. Public opposition in many Muslim-majority countries, the unresolved Palestinian issue, and domestic political risks could complicate implementation. Countries like Pakistan have historically resisted, while Saudi Arabia continues to emphasize
progress on Palestinian statehood. Türkiye’s independent foreign policy also adds complexity.
Despite these hurdles, Trump’s strategy reflects an ambitious vision: using the current moment of Iranian vulnerability to create a broader, economically integrated, and security-focused regional bloc that sidelines Tehran and establishes a new paradigm for Middle East peace
— one driven by shared interests rather than traditional conflict resolution models.
The coming weeks will determine whether this linkage between Iran’s nuclear future and a transformed regional order can deliver the “great and meaningful” deal Trump envisions.
