US President Donald Trump has publicly pressured Pakistan to recognise Israel and formalise diplomatic ties as part of a broader settlement linked to the Iran war, posting the demand on his Truth Social platform on Monday, 25 May. The move marks a significant escalation in Washington's push to expand the Abraham Accords — the normalisation framework launched during Trump's first term in 2020 — to encompass major Muslim-majority nations.

What Trump Demanded

In his Truth Social post, Trump wrote that it 'should be mandatory' for Pakistan to 'sign onto the Abraham Accords', under which Muslim-majority nations formally recognise Israel. He framed the demand as a quid pro quo, stating the US had expended considerable effort to 'pull this very complex puzzle together' — a reference to both the Israel-initiated Iran conflict and Washington's ongoing attempts to broker its end.

Trump also directed his representatives to 'begin, and successfully complete, the process of signing these Countries into the already Historic Abraham Accord,' according to his post. Beyond Pakistan, he named Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Türkiye, Egypt, and Jordan as countries from which he expects similar acquiescence.

Current State of the Abraham Accords

The Abraham Accords — named after the patriarch revered by Muslims, Jews, and Christians alike — were originally signed in 2020 during Trump's first term, with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain as founding signatories. Morocco and Sudan subsequently joined. Reports indicate that Kazakhstan and Somaliland have also agreed to join the framework, though formal accession remains pending. The UAE and Bahrain, both drawn into the Iran conflict, had already been part of the original accord.

Why Pakistan Faces a Difficult Choice

Pakistan's stance on Israel is rooted in decades of opposition, dating to its resistance to Israel's founding and its military backing of Arab nations during successive Arab-Israeli wars. Islamabad has consistently positioned itself as a champion of Muslim solidarity and a vocal critic of Israeli policies toward Palestinians.

Pakistan's Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has publicly accused Israel of using 'starvation of civilians as a method of warfare' and suggested such conduct 'may constitute a war crime.' Against the backdrop of sustained criticism at international forums and strong domestic Islamist opposition to any normalisation with Israel, analysts suggest it would be deeply difficult for Islamabad to comply with Trump's demand.

Implications for the Iran Settlement

Trump's Abraham Accords push introduces a new and potentially complicating dimension to the broader Iran deal negotiations, which have reportedly stalled over separate issues. By tying Accords membership to the Iran war settlement, Washington is effectively bundling two distinct diplomatic tracks — regional normalisation with Israel and a ceasefire or agreement with Tehran — into a single framework. Critics argue this linkage could further delay an already fragile peace process.

What Comes Next

It remains unclear whether Pakistan or any of the other named countries will formally respond to Trump's demand. The post signals that Washington intends to use its role as a mediator in the Iran conflict as leverage to extract normalisation commitments. How the named governments — particularly those with deep domestic sensitivities around Israel — navigate this pressure will be closely watched in the coming weeks.