These strikes were carried out “in order to protect our troops against threats posed by Iranian forces”, but the army “is showing restraint during the ongoing ceasefire”, mentioned Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for the American Central Command, in a press release.
No further details were immediately available, particularly regarding the exact nature of the Iranian threats and their implications for the negotiations.
Earlier, Mr. Trump had mentioned that any agreement to end the war with Iran would have to include requiring several additional countries, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, to rejoin the Abraham Accords, agreements negotiated by the United States during Mr. Trump’s first term and aimed at normalizing relations with Israel.
This proposal comes as the emerging agreement with Iran is the subject of criticism from his Republican colleagues, supporters of a tougher line towards Iran, and could add new diplomatic complications to the negotiations.
Mr. Trump named Saudi Arabia and Qatar as countries that should “immediately” join, alongside Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan. Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates were the first countries to join in 2020.
He wrote that “after all the work the United States has done in trying to solve this very complex puzzle, it should be mandatory that all of these countries, at a minimum, join the Abraham Accords simultaneously.”
Mr. Trump has long hoped that Saudi Arabia would join the deal, but the kingdom has always maintained that any normalization agreement first requires establishing a clear path toward the creation of a Palestinian state.
It is also a key element for Pakistan, which is one of the countries not maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel.
Syed Mohammad Ali, an Islamabad-based analyst, said Pakistan’s position on Israel remained unchanged despite Mr Trump’s latest proposal.
The president discussed the Abraham Accords plan with leaders during Saturday’s negotiations. He said he would accept “one or two” countries refusing to sign, but added that most should be willing to do so.
Egypt and Jordan already officially recognize Israel and have long-standing peace treaties. Turkey first recognized Israel in 1949.
Masood Khan, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States, said it remained to be seen how viable the proposal would be for countries on Mr. Trump’s list.
“Invoking the Abraham Accords at this point brings a whole new dimension to the diplomatic and mediation processes, because this issue was not on the agenda,” he said, highlighting the internal pressure Mr. Trump faces to reach a favorable agreement.
However, added Mr. Khan, “the diplomatic channel still works, and I think Pakistan is at the heart of it, supported by the countries of the region.”
It is still unclear when and how an agreement with Iran could be concluded. Donald Trump has suggested that even Iran could end up joining the agreements, if an agreement is reached.
These agreements constitute a series of diplomatic, economic and security agreements concluded under the influence of the United States during Mr. Trump’s first term, initially between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, then with Sudan, Morocco and, more recently, Kazakhstan.
They were presented as an effort to promote cooperation between countries in the Middle East and North Africa, and the administration saw them in part as a way to pave the way for full relations with Israel.
