Trump Bets Arab Fears of Iran Threat Can Win Mideast Peace
- He’s made his pitch to friendly audiences in Riyadh, Jerusalem
- Next up on Tuesday is Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas
Trump Pushes Fear of Iran to Spur Mideast Peace
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Donald Trump is betting that Arab nations hold the key to securing peace between Israel and the Palestinians, a paradoxical premise founded on his belief that shared concern over Iran will bring longtime rivals to the bargaining table.
Trump is using the opening legs of his first foreign trip as U.S. president to encourage the revival of Mideast peace talks. In Riyadh and Jerusalem, he said repeatedly that the perceived threat from Iran is pushing Arab Gulf states and Israel closer together. He believes that realignment could create conditions for long-abandoned peace talks to resume.