Trump plans ‘much bigger’ Middle East reset after Iran war: What’s on the table? | Today’s news
The Trump administration is considering a broad strategy to reshape the Middle East after the Iran war, with plans being discussed to build a regional alliance to contain Tehran, deepen Israel’s ties with Arab states and resolve several conflicts left over from the September 7 attacks.
Trump’s strategy is still evolving, but could become a central part of US policy in the region during the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term.
Trump’s bigger plan for the Middle East is taking shape
The emerging strategy is being worked on at a high political and interagency level, Axios reports, citing people familiar with the matter. Trump discussed the idea with top advisers in two meetings in recent weeks where various proposals for the region were considered.
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In private conversations, Trump has described his ambitions as “something much bigger” in the Middle East after the war with Iran.
Strategy could also be shaped by two big elections: the Israeli vote on October 27 and the US midterm elections in November. Administration officials hope the next Israeli government will be prepared to work with Washington on a broader regional agenda.
However, some US officials have indicated that Trump intends to continue this strategy regardless of the outcome of the Israeli election, including if the vote ends in a political stalemate.
Containing Iran through a regional alliance
One of the main ideas being considered is the creation of a stronger regional link between America’s allies in the fight against Iran.
Under the proposal, Washington would serve as a guarantor of the arrangement, providing the regional grouping with a security framework aimed at limiting Tehran’s influence.
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This approach would mean a shift from dealing with Iran primarily through individual bilateral relations to a broader regional framework involving more American partners.
Details remain unresolved, including whether all of Washington’s regional allies would agree to participate.
The Axios report said the strategy could take several more weeks to finalize. “It’s cooking, but it’s not cooked yet,” the report quoted one official as saying.
The strategy also includes Gaza, Syria and Lebanon
The proposed strategy is not limited to Iran.
Another element under discussion is the effort to bring the regional consequences of the October 7 attacks to a close. This could include advancing the next phase of Trump’s Gaza plan, securing a security agreement between Israel and Syria, and implementing the existing agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
The aim would be to connect several unresolved regional problems rather than solving them separately.
This approach could provide Washington with a broader framework for negotiations involving Israel and its neighbors while trying to reduce the risk of further conflict in the region.
Saudi-Israeli normalization back on Trump’s agenda
A third component of the emerging strategy is the expansion of the Abraham Accords, agreements that established or normalized relations between Israel and several Arab countries.
A Saudi-Israeli normalization agreement would be a major part of this effort.
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Saudi Arabia and Israel have not established formal diplomatic relations, although Washington previously pushed for an agreement between the two countries. Incorporating Riyadh into the broader regional framework would also give the strategy a significant diplomatic and economic dimension.
The administration is therefore considering a package that would combine pressure on Iran with expanded diplomatic ties between Israel and its neighbors.
Israel’s election could affect Trump’s Middle East strategy
The timing of Israel’s Oct. 27 election is an important factor in Washington’s planning.
The Trump administration wants any new Israeli government to be willing and able to cooperate with its post-war strategy. But the officials also stressed that the US president has no intention of waiting indefinitely for a settlement in the Israeli political process.
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November’s US midterm elections are another consideration as the administration considers how its Middle East policy will fit into the final two years of Trump’s term.
This strategy is still a work in progress. The central idea, according to a person briefed on the process, is to link several of the region’s major diplomatic and security issues into one broader framework.
“The idea is to tie a lot of things in the region together — how do you create a regional arrangement after a war. It’s still unclear if all of the US allies in the region will be on board,” the Axios report added.
