U.S. President Donald Trump kicked off his three-day Persian Gulf tour in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday with a sweeping foreign-policy address that heralded an optimistic future for the Middle East.
Trump expressed hope that the White House could negotiate a deal with Iran to curb its proxy influence and ensure that Tehran never obtains a nuclear weapon. “If Iran’s leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure and drive Iranian oil exports to zero,” Trump said.
At the same time, Trump appeared to de-prioritize White House efforts to convince Saudi Arabia to sign the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements with Israel. “You’ll do it in your own time,” Trump said.
Instead, Trump’s focus in Riyadh on Tuesday appeared to center on securing investment. The two countries announced a $600 billion Saudi commitment to invest in the United States that included deals on energy, critical minerals, defense, and health.
Toward the end of his speech, Trump announced that Washington will be lifting sanctions on Syria “to give them a chance to rebuild,” following in the footsteps of U.S. allies in Europe that have been urging Washington to do so. “Good luck, Syria,” Trump added. “Show us something special.” Trump is expected to “say hello” to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday in Riyadh, according to the White House.
Read more in today’s World Brief: Trump Champions ‘Golden Age of the Middle East’ During Saudi Arabia Visit.
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