Sen. Lindsey Graham on Monday threw his support behind President Donald Trump’s proposal to bring Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Gulf nations into the Abraham Accords as part of ongoing negotiations aimed at ending the latest conflict involving Iran.
The South Carolina Republican praised the idea as “simply brilliant,” arguing that expanding the diplomatic framework could reshape the Middle East in ways unseen for generations. Graham suggested that broader recognition of Israel by Arab and Muslim-majority nations would reduce instability across the region and create new economic opportunities in an area long defined by conflict and political tension.
“With Saudi Arabia and others like Pakistan making peace with Israel, the region will know a level of stability never dreamed of before President Trump,” Graham wrote on X. He added that such agreements could eventually transform the Middle East from what he described as a “powder keg” into a center for economic growth and regional cooperation.
Graham also made clear he believes America’s allies in both the Arab world and Israel should rally behind the effort, saying that failure “is not an option.” His remarks reflected growing Republican support for Trump’s attempt to use diplomacy and economic normalization as leverage while talks with Iran continue.
Trump raised the issue publicly Monday ahead of a Memorial Day ceremony in Washington, urging Gulf allies to formally join the Abraham Accords, the 2020 agreement brokered during his first administration to normalize relations between Israel and several neighboring states.
The renewed push comes as the United States and Iran reportedly move closer toward a deal that would extend the current ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global energy markets. Discussions are also said to involve Iran’s nuclear program and the possibility of sanctions relief, though officials on both sides maintain negotiations are still ongoing.
“Negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran are proceeding nicely,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. But the president also warned that the alternative to a successful agreement would be a return “to the Battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before.”
That warning underscored the fragile balance surrounding the talks. While Trump has repeatedly framed the negotiations as an opportunity for peace through strength, his comments also reflected the reality that another escalation in the region could carry enormous military and economic consequences.
Trump said he spent part of the weekend speaking with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain and the UAE are already members of the Abraham Accords, and Trump argued that additional countries should join as part of any final settlement tied to ending hostilities with Iran.
“It should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords,” Trump said, while acknowledging that some nations may ultimately decline.
Graham’s praise for the negotiations comes only days after he publicly cautioned against striking a deal with Tehran too quickly. The senator warned Saturday that a premature agreement could strengthen the Iranian regime over time and potentially become what he called a “nightmare for Israel.”
Trump addressed criticism from some Republicans earlier Monday, defending the negotiations while insisting that his administration would not rush into an agreement. According to the president, he personally instructed U.S. officials to proceed carefully as talks continue behind closed doors.
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