Speaking at the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh on Wednesday, Trump reiterated his desire for a deal with Iran and advocated for expanding the Abraham Accords by including additional nations in the landmark agreement.

Trump’s comments were made while addressing leaders of the GCC during his four-day visit to the region.

“I aim to achieve a deal. I want to explore possibilities. However, for this to materialize, Iran must cease sponsoring terrorism, end its proxy wars, and verifiably and permanently abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons. They cannot possess nuclear weapons,” Trump stated.

Trump commended the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for “their visionary leadership and courage in signing the historic Abraham Accords,” a U.S.-brokered agreement in 2020. These agreements saw the UAE and Bahrain recognizing Israel’s sovereignty and establishing full diplomatic relations, marking the first peace agreement between Israel and an Arab country since the Israel-Jordan treaty in 1994.

“Looking ahead, we will build on this progress by incorporating more countries into the Abraham Accords,” Trump said.

These remarks, delivered shortly after Trump’s meeting with Syria’s Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, followed the announcement that his administration was lifting sanctions on Syria.

Trump also noted that Lebanon has a “new opportunity for a future devoid of Hezbollah’s influence if the new president and prime minister can rebuild a strong Lebanese state.”

“This presents a unique opportunity to build a Lebanon that is prosperous and at peace with its neighbors,” Trump stated.

In closing, Trump made a broader appeal to the entire region, stating: “We are going to create a Middle East that is a thriving center for commerce, diplomacy, and culture, located at the heart of the world. It is, in fact, the center of the world.”

Trump is scheduled to travel to Qatar later on Wednesday, marking the second stop of his four-day Middle East tour.

Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.

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