Striking claim from Axios: Trump administration preparing post-Iran war Middle East plan
The US-based news site Axios has claimed that US President Donald Trump is drafting a plan for US policy in the Middle East following a potential war with Iran. The plan reportedly focuses on containing Iran and normalizing relations between Israel and regional countries.
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Reports in the US press have alleged that the administration of US President Donald Trump is in the process of drafting a strategy for the Middle East to be implemented after the end of a war with Iran.
In a report citing two US officials and two sources familiar with the matter, the news site Axios claimed that the Trump administration's plan focuses on the containment of Iran and the normalization of Israel's relations with its neighbors.
It was noted that the plan is still in its early stages and aims to guide US Middle East policy during the remaining two years of Trump's term. It was also suggested that the parliamentary elections to be held in Israel on October 27 and the midterm elections expected in the US in November are significant factors in the preparation process of the plan.
"Trump said he is working on 'something much bigger' in the Middle East"
US officials stated that work on the strategy is being carried out at the level of senior political staff within the Trump administration and various institutions. Sources reported that Trump has held two meetings with his senior advisors in recent weeks to discuss the plan and that various ideas have been brought to the table.
Axios claimed that in private conversations, Trump said he is working on "something much bigger" in the Middle East following a war with Iran. The White House did not comment on the allegations.
Regional alignment, Gaza peace plan, and the Abraham Accords
Sources indicated that the strategy is being considered based on three main pillars. One of these is the creation of a regional alignment under Washington's guarantee to limit Iran's influence among US allies in the region.
Another element is securing the next phase of the Trump-led Gaza plan, reaching a security agreement between Israel and Syria, and implementing the agreement between Israel and Lebanon. It was suggested that this is intended to be a joint effort to end the regional crisis that emerged after Israel launched its attacks on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023.
The third element is reportedly the expansion of the Abraham Accords and reaching a normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
"Trump will push for efforts regardless of Israeli elections"
The report stated that the Trump administration hopes the new Israeli government to be formed after the October 27 elections will be willing and able to cooperate with the US within the framework of the post-war strategy.
According to Axios, some US officials stated that Trump will push for the implementation of this strategy regardless of the election results in Israel. It was claimed that the goal is to implement the plan even if the elections result in a political stalemate.
A source familiar with the process stated that drafting the strategy will take a few more weeks, saying, "They are working on it, but it is not finished yet. The idea here is to link many elements in the region together and set out how a regional alignment can be formed after the war. However, it is not yet clear whether all US allies in the region will support this plan."