AI
If you were wondering whether Tehran had any interest in turning down the rhetorical temperature, Iran’s leadership just answered with a loud, defiant “no.”
In a Telegram message tied to a 2026 Hajj pilgrimage, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei claimed the United States is on its way out as a dominant force in the Middle East, warning that American military positioning in the region is living on borrowed time.
“What is certain in this regard is that the hands of time will not turn back, and the nations and lands of the region will no longer serve as shields for U.S. bases,” he wrote.
He doubled down with an even blunter shot across Washington’s bow: “The United States not only will no longer have a safe haven for its mischief and for establishing military bases in the region but day by day, it is growing more distant from its former status,” Khamenei added.
In other words, Iran’s top power center is openly fantasizing about a Middle East where U.S. forces are boxed out and American influence fades into history. Not exactly the kind of messaging that screams “peace partner.”
The timing, of course, is rich. The saber-rattling comes as Washington and Tehran are reportedly still probing a potential diplomatic off-ramp to avoid further escalation.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is trying to reshape the regional chessboard in a very different direction—one built around expanding the Abraham Accords and locking in broader Arab-Israeli normalization as a foundation for stability.
Trump, posting on Truth Social, argued that the next phase of Middle East diplomacy should not be optional participation—it should be mandatory alignment.
“Negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran are proceeding nicely! It will only be a Great Deal for all or, no Deal at all — Back to the Battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before — And nobody wants that!”
He laid out a sweeping vision that pulls in nearly every major regional player: “I stated that, after all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords. Those Countries discussed are Saudi Arabia, The United Arab Emirates (already a Member!), Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain (already a Member!),”
And he made clear he sees the Abraham Accords as more than diplomacy—he calls it a geopolitical and economic breakthrough:
“The Abraham Accords have proven to be, for the Countries involved (The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and Kazakhstan), a Financial, Economic, and Social BOOM, even during this time of Conflict and War, with the current Members never even suggesting leaving, or taking so much as even a pause,”
“The reason for this is that the Abraham Accords have been great for them, and will be even better for everybody, and bring true Power, Strength, and Peace to the Middle East for the first time in 5,000 years. It will be a Document respected like no other that has ever been signed, anywhere in the World. Its level of Importance and Prestige will be unparalleled!”
Trump continued building pressure on regional capitals, pushing for immediate sign-ons: “It should start with the immediate signing by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and everybody else should follow suit. If they don’t, they should not be part of this Deal in that it shows bad intention…”
He even floated the idea that Iran itself could eventually be folded into the framework if diplomacy succeeds: “In speaking to numerous of the Great Leaders mentioned above, they would be honored, as soon as our Document is signed, to have the Islamic Republic of Iran as part of the Abraham Accords. Wow, now that would be something special!”
A White House call reportedly included leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, underscoring how aggressively Washington is trying to consolidate a regional bloc around the agreement.
