‘Are you still there?’: Silence follows Trump’s push for Muslim nations to join Abraham Accords

US President Donald Trump has urged leaders of several Arab and Muslim-majority countries to join the Abraham Accords and normalise relations with Israel once the ongoing conflict with Iran comes to an end, according to a report by Axios.

The report said that Trump made the request during a phone call on Saturday with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain.

The discussion focused on efforts to secure a deal to end the Iran war and reduce tensions across the region.

According to the report, Trump told the leaders that if an agreement with Iran is achieved, he expects countries that do not already have formal ties with Israel to join the Abraham Accords.

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The initiative, launched during Trump’s first term, led to diplomatic agreements between Israel and several Arab states, including the UAE and Bahrain.

Surprise reaction from regional leaders

According to the report, US officials familiar with the call said that some leaders were surprised by Trump’s request, particularly representatives from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan, which do not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel.

There was silence on the line and Trump joked and asked if 'they are still there,' the report said.

Trump reportedly informed the leaders that he would next speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said that he hoped Netanyahu would soon be included in a future regional call alongside Arab leaders.

The report added that Trump asked his advisers, including Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff, to follow up with regional governments on the issue in the coming weeks.

Saudi Arabia remains key target

Trump is believed to be particularly focused on securing a historic agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel. However, officials quoted by Axios said that such a breakthrough remains difficult in the near term because of regional tensions and domestic politics in Israel.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously shown openness to improved ties with Israel, but Saudi Arabia has recently taken a more cautious position amid the war in Gaza and tensions involving Iran.

Saudi continues to insist that Israel must commit to a clear and irreversible path toward a Palestinian state before diplomatic ties can be normalised. Israel’s current government has rejected those demands.

Peace deal to regional realignment

Trump later praised West Asian countries for supporting efforts to end the Iran conflict and said broader participation in the Abraham Accords would strengthen regional cooperation.

He even suggested that Iran could one day join the agreements, despite decades of hostility between Tehran and Israel.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham backed Trump’s proposal and called on Saudi Arabia and other Muslim-majority countries to support the initiative, describing it as a potentially historic turning point for West Asia.