by David Ramadan
Now that the Iranian nuclear issue seems to have been resolved, the United States is turning to the rest of the Middle East.
Despite Tehran’s predictable denials and the skepticism of many analysts, the U.S. air campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure achieved what diplomacy could not. It looks to have ended the country’s nuclear weapons program.
This outcome, though largely downplayed in official statements, marks a major shift in regional security dynamics. It also opens the door for a broader strategic pivot − one that President Donald Trump appears poised to seize.
Trump is returning to familiar ground: the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and some of its Arab neighbors. With his sights now set on brokering peace across the Middle East, he faces a less complicated landscape − but a higher bar − than the one that produced the initial normalization deals.
Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on July 7, Monday, with the future of the war in Gaza, including a possible ceasefire, at the center of their conversation.
But the wars that Trump promised to end, Gaza-Israel and Russia-Ukraine, are still burning. Worse, a new conflict erupted on his watch between Israel and Iran, with the United States not just observing from the sidelines but also participating militarily.
How Trump can cement his ‘dealmaker’ reputation
Trump cannot rely on partial wins or symbolic handshakes. If he wants to earn the “dealmaker” mantle that supposedly defines his legacy, he must go bigger. That means not just ending the Israel-Gaza war but also delivering a comprehensive settlement in the region.
That road runs through Palestinian statehood.
Saudi Arabia has made it clear: There will be no expansion of the Abraham Accords and no normalization with Israel without a credible path to Palestinian statehood. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, now the most influential voice in the Arab world, has drawn a line.
The rules of the game have changed. Without addressing Palestinian statehood head-on, no serious peace can be achieved.
As I wrote in The Hill, Netanyahu’s miscalculation − most notably his refusal to allow a Saudi-led delegation to visit the West Bank − has unified Arab states around formal recognition of a Palestinian state. Now, with Europe aligning behind that same goal, the momentum is undeniable.
To his credit, Trump seems to recognize this shift.
He began the process of lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria on June 30, a move clearly aimed at clearing the deck for broader regional talks.
Time to up the ante in Middle East relations
It’s a pragmatic step. Not a reward for Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, but a signal to other regional actors that Washington is preparing to engage on all fronts, especially to Saudi Arabia, which has basically guaranteed the new leadership in Syria.
Even more telling: Trump summoned Netanyahu to the White House. While it was spun as “Bibi is visiting,” the reality is unmistakable. Netanyahu is being called in. The demand is simple: End the Gaza war, now.
With the Iranian nuclear threat neutralized for now and Arab states increasingly unified in their support for Palestinian statehood −along with European backing led by French President Emmanuel Macron − Netanyahu is running out of cover.
The longer the war drags on in Gaza, the more isolated Netanyahu becomes. The Arab world, led by Riyadh, isn’t budging. Europe is moving toward recognition of a Palestinian state. And even in America, political patience is wearing thin.
Trump’s instincts have always leaned transactional. He values wins. There is no bigger win in the Middle East today than a deal that ends the Gaza war, brings the Israeli hostages home, recognizes a Palestinian state and brings Saudi Arabia fully into the Abraham Accords.
That’s the prize. That’s the legacy move.
That deal requires more than pressure. It demands vision.
Trump must not only persuade Netanyahu to end the war but also present a credible political solution − one that addresses both Israeli security and Palestinian sovereignty.
Saudi Prince bin Salman has already laid the diplomatic groundwork. The region is more aligned than it has been in decades. What’s needed now is American resolve.
This is Trump’s moment to prove that his foreign policy is more than rhetoric and rallies. The military action in Iran gave him leverage. Now he must use it.
The Middle East doesn’t need another round of photo ops. It needs action. And that begins with recognizing that Palestinian statehood is no longer optional, it’s essential.
This requires political capital, diplomatic toughness and strategic clarity. If Trump succeeds, and it is a big “if,” he will have achieved what no other president has: ending multiple wars and establishing lasting stability in a fractured region.
The clock is ticking. The pieces are moving. The opportunity is real.
It’s time to close the deal.
