عربي
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said Wednesday that new countries, some of which were never expected, will soon normalize relations with 'Israel' under the Abraham Accords framework.
'We think we will have some pretty big announcements on countries that are coming into the Abraham Accords,' Witkoff told CNBC. 'We're hoping for normalization across an array of countries, maybe that people would never have contemplated coming in before.'
He emphasized that expanding the Abraham Accords remains a key objective of US President Donald Trump, who returned to office in 2025. The agreements, initially signed in 2020 between 'Israel and the UAE and Bahrain, were later joined by Morocco and Sudan.
Witkoff said the US would issue a 'significant announcement' soon on the new wave of normalization. 'We expect many countries to normalize relations,' he added.
His comments came after the end of a 12-day war between 'Israel' and Iran, which concluded Tuesday with a US-brokered ceasefire.
The conflict, which began with 'Israeli' strikes on Iran, included a series of escalating attacks—among them, 'Israeli' bombings of Iranian military and nuclear sites, and retaliatory Iranian strikes on 'Israeli' intelligence centers.
The US also carried out airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities before Iran responded by targeting the American Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar.
Witkoff, who played a major role in negotiating the truce, expressed optimism about the future. 'We've received strong indications that a comprehensive peace agreement [with Iran] is possible. I believe Iran is ready,' he said.
However, he warned that Iran's resumed uranium enrichment is a red line. 'Enrichment is a red line. Weaponization is another. We will never allow that. It would destabilize the entire region,' Witkoff said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Roya News
30 minutes ago
- Roya News
European summit condemns Gaza crisis, demands full blockade lift
European Summit strongly condemned the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, highlighting the worsening famine and the large number of civilian casualties resulting from ongoing military operations and the blockade imposed on the territory. In their statement, EU leaders called on 'Israel' to fully lift the blockade and allow unhindered access for humanitarian aid, stressing the need to ensure a safe and regular flow of assistance to civilians in Gaza. The summit also denounced the recent escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories, including settler violence and settlement expansion, as well as the continued 'Israeli' military operations in the West Bank. The leaders emphasized that these violations undermine prospects for peace and stability in the region. Furthermore, the statement announced that the European Summit will discuss a report in July assessing 'Israel's' compliance with the partnership agreement it has with the EU, amid growing concerns over Tel Aviv's obligations to international law and human rights.
Roya News
30 minutes ago
- Roya News
Early US intelligence suggests Iran nuclear program slowed only by months: Sources
A preliminary US intelligence assessment suggests that recent American airstrikes only delayed Iran's nuclear program by a few months, contradicting claims by President Donald Trump and 'Israeli' officials that the facilities were 'totally destroyed,' according to an investigation by the Associated Press. The classified report, issued by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), found that while the strikes on Iran's Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites caused serious damage, much of the infrastructure remains intact. Some of Iran's highly enriched uranium and critical centrifuges were reportedly moved prior to the attacks, according to two anonymous sources familiar with the assessment. The White House swiftly rejected the DIA findings. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard claimed in a statement that 'Iran's nuclear facilities have been destroyed,' asserting it would take Tehran years to rebuild them. President Trump reiterated that the sites were 'obliterated' during remarks at the NATO summit in the Netherlands, calling reports to the contrary 'inconclusive' and slamming media outlets as 'scum' for publishing leaked assessments. The DIA acknowledged the report was preliminary and carried 'low confidence,' as analysts have not had direct access to the bombed sites. A joint investigation with the FBI into the unauthorized leak has been launched. The AP report also highlights growing concerns among experts that Iran may retain the capacity to reconstitute its nuclear program using material and equipment relocated ahead of the strikes. Satellite imagery showed suspicious movements at Fordo days before the attack. While Iran claims its nuclear program is peaceful, the International Atomic Energy Agency has warned that Tehran has enough enriched uranium to produce several bombs if further refined. The 'Israel' Atomic Energy Commission insisted the joint 'Israeli'-American strikes set Iran's capabilities back 'by many years,' though it provided no evidence to support the claim.
Roya News
30 minutes ago
- Roya News
Iran criticizes European stance on 'Israeli', US attacks
Iran's Foreign Minister has criticized several European countries for what he described as their support for 'Israel' and failure to condemn ongoing attacks by both 'Israeli' and American forces. In statements on Thursday, the minister said, 'We criticize the positions of European countries that support Israel and ignore condemning the Zionist and American aggression against us.' He also urged European nations to adopt what he called a 'responsible and fair stance' regarding ongoing 'Israeli' actions in the region, which Iran has labeled as continuous crimes.
