“Any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls.” — President Donald Trump
Saudi Nuclear Deal and Abraham Accords
Conditions for Approval
US President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that a civil nuclear energy agreement between the US Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia would be approved only if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords and recognizes Israel. The deal is limited to non-military use and prohibits Saudi uranium enrichment.
Timing and Negotiations
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the condition requiring participation in the Abraham Accords was added after the initial announcement. Leavitt stated that this should not be considered a surprise given Trump's previous public comments. Trump acknowledged that he had not discussed this condition with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Reactions
- Israeli Prime Minister's Office: Issued a statement supporting Trump's position, calling expansion of the Abraham Accords "a historic step for peace" and citing the principle of "peace through strength."
- Israeli Opposition: Politicians Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman criticized the deal, stating it could enable Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons.
- Background: The Abraham Accords were initiated in 2020 and include signatories UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and Kazakhstan. Previous US efforts under the Biden administration to normalize Saudi-Israeli relations stalled after the Gaza war began, as Saudi Arabia demanded that Israel recognize a Palestinian state.
Non-Proliferation Concerns
Saudi Arabia has previously stated it would pursue nuclear weapons if Iran developed them. The proposed deal has raised concerns about a potential nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Israel maintains an undeclared nuclear program.
Threats Against Iran and Houthis
Maritime Attacks and Blockade
The Houthi rebel group in Yemen announced a maritime blockade, closing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi Arabian shipping. This followed Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis claimed responsibility for recent attacks on tankers. Oil prices rose above $100 per barrel for the first time since June 2020.
Trump's Statements
On Truth Social, Trump wrote that "any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls." He did not specify whether this applies specifically to Houthi attacks or to attacks originating from other actors.
In a separate post, Trump stated: "if they do this again, the US will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves."
Trump told Axios he would decide soon on a "massive attack" against Iran, describing it as "one bigger than ever before."
Congressional Actions
The US House of Representatives voted to demand an end to military engagement in Iran without Congressional approval. The resolution cited the War Powers Act, which limits military engagement to 90 days without Congressional authorization. The White House has circumvented this by claiming that ceasefire periods reset the clock. The Senate did not pass the resolution.