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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.
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