Iran is giving President Donald Trump a reason to feel optimistic about Middle East peace.
Fresh off his meetings with Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia who have grown increasingly anxious about Iran’s posture in the region, Trump devoted chunks of his remarks here to knocking the Iranian regime and highlighting the silver lining to the threat he believes Iran poses: a greater potential for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
In appearances alongside the Israeli President and Prime Minister, Trump stressed his sense that the Iranian threat has brought many Arab countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, closer toward a peaceful and more collaborative relationship with Israel.
“I just left Saudi Arabia – the king. We had an amazing two days and their feeling toward Israel is really very positive. Tremendous progress has been made. I think a lot of that progress has been made because of the aggression of Iran. And it’s forcing people together in a very positive way,” Trump said alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “It was very historic what took place over the last two days.”
Netanyahu said he believes Trump’s tough stance on Iran “not only helps security, but also helps propel the possibility of reconciliation and peace between Israel and a lot of folks.”
“And that will help reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians,” Netanyahu said.
Saudi Arabia and other Sunni-majority countries in the Middle East have grown closer to Israel behind the scenes in recent years, united by an equally wary perception of Iran due to its nuclear ambitions and destabilizing actions in the region. The two sides were also united in their opposition to the Iranian nuclear deal brokered by President Barack Obama.
In remarks earlier in the day with Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin, Trump said he sensed “such a different feeling toward Israel” from Arab countries that are still not at peace with the Jewish State.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud appeared especially eager to “see peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians,” Trump said.
Trump has projected optimism that the time is right to reach a peace deal despite heavy skepticism from experts on the topic, and his comments about Arab leaders in the region served to bolster his case as the position of Arab governments in the Middle East weighs heavily on Palestinian decision-making.
A senior White House official told reporters on Sunday night at the end of Trump’s meetings with Saudi royalty that the administration was particularly struck by the level of cooperation between Arab leaders and Israel, saying the two sides were “cooperating incredibly well with Israel.”
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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump board Air Force One on Saturday, May, 27, 2017, at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy. They were headed back to the United States after a nine-day trip to the Middle East and Europe.
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President Trump greets people on May 27, after speaking to US troops at Naval Air Station Sigonella.
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President Trump addresses US troops and their families on May 27, at the Sigonella Naval Air Station.
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President Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive on May 27, to address US military personnel and families at Naval Air Station Sigonella.
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Leaders of the G-7 and some African nations pose for a photo on May 27, on the second day of the G-7 summit in Taormina, Italy.
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President Trump gestures on May 27, during a G-7 session.
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President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, arrive for a concert of the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra while in Taormina, Italy, on Friday, May 26. The Trumps are in Italy for a two-day G-7 summit.
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Trump and other leaders pose for a group photo at the G-7 summit on May 26. From left are European Council President Donald Tusk, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Trump, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, British Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
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Trump and Trudeau walk together after the group photo.
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G-7 leaders congregate during a walking tour on May 26.
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Trump embraces new French President Emmanuel Macron on May 26.
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The leaders watch a French air squadron.
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Melania Trump arrives at the City Hall in Catania, Italy, on May 26. She was wearing a $51,500 Dolce & Gabbana jacket as she met with other spouses of G-7 leaders.
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Trump shakes hands with Macron in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday, May 25. They were attending a NATO summit as the alliance officially opened a new $1 billion headquarters.
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Trump stands with other world leaders during a NATO photo shoot on May 25.
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Trump speaks with British Prime Minister Theresa May during a working dinner at NATO headquarters.
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Trump stands next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the NATO summit.
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Melania Trump visits the Magritte Museum in Brussels with Amelie Derbaudrenghien, partner of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel.
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A girl takes a selfie with Melania Trump at a children's hospital in Brussels on May 25.
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Trump meets with Macron in Brussels.
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Trump walks with European Council President Donald Tusk, center, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, right, after they met at the European Council in Brussels on May 25.
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Trump, third from right, attends a meeting with leaders at the European Council.
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Trump speaks with King Philippe of Belgium as Queen Mathilde and Melania Trump chat during a reception at the Royal Palace in Brussels on Wednesday, May 24.
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Tusk talks to Trump as he welcomes him in Brussels.
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Trump stands with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel while the national anthem is played during Trump's arrival in Belgium on May 24.
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Protesters in Brussels demonstrate with effigies of Trump and Michel on May 24.
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Trump shakes hands with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Rome on May 24.
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Pope Francis stands with Trump and his family during a private audience at the Vatican on May 24. Joining the President, from left, are Trump's son-in-law, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner; Trump's daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump; and first lady Melania Trump.
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Trump and the Pope exchange gifts. Trump presented the Pope with a first-edition set of Martin Luther King's writings. The Pope gave Trump an olive-tree medal that the Pope said symbolizes peace.
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Trump and his wife look at the ceilings of the Sistine Chapel.
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Trump speaks to reporters in Rome during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, right, on May 24.
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The first lady visits a pediatric hospital in Vatican City on May 24.
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Melania Trump arrives at the Vatican on May 24. With Vatican protocol in mind, she wore a black veil and long-sleeved black dress draped down to her calf. Ivanka Trump wore a similar outfit with a larger veil.
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President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wave at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem on Tuesday, May 23. Trump gave a speech there, reaffirming his country's commitment to Israel while also holding up Judaism's historical ties to the United States.
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People take pictures of the message Trump wrote at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, on May 23.
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With the help of US Marines, Trump and his wife lay a wreath at Yad Vashem.
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Trump meets with Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, on May 23. Trump met with Israeli leaders the day before and said he believes both sides "are ready to reach for peace."
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A Palestinian security official takes position before the arrival of Trump's convoy in Bethlehem, West Bank.
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Israeli and American activists hold signs Monday, May 22, during an anti-Trump protest next to the US embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Melania Trump and Israeli first lady Sara Netanyahu speak to children during their visit to the Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem on May 22.
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Trump talks to reporters as he meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on May 22. Trump sought to rebut claims that he damaged Israeli intelligence capabilities by revealing highly classified information to Russian operatives earlier this month. "Just so you understand, I never mentioned the word or the name Israel," Trump told reporters as he began the second leg of his first foreign tour.
Trump stands in the Western Wall plaza. To his left, in black, is Shmuel Rabinowitz, the rabbi of the Western Wall.
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First lady Melania Trump, in white, visits the Western Wall. At far left is Ivanka Trump.
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The President and first lady plant a tree in Jerusalem with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
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Trump is welcomed by Netanyahu upon arriving in Tel Aviv on May 22. Trump started his trip with two days in Saudi Arabia.
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On the way to Tel Aviv, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One.
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While in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Trump attends the inauguration ceremony for the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology. Joining him here are Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, center, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, left.
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Trump speaks in Riyadh during the Arab Islamic American Summit on Sunday, May 21. Trump looked to make it clear that the United States is not at war with Islam. "This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects or different civilizations," he said. "This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it. This is a battle between good and evil."
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Trump sits at the summit, which included leaders from 55 Muslim-majority countries. He urged them to do more to eradicate terrorist groups that claim the mantle of Islam. "We can only overcome this evil if the forces of good are united and strong and if everyone in this room does their fair share and fulfills their part of the burden," Trump said. "Muslim-majority countries must take the lead in stamping out radicalization."
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Trump poses with other leaders at the Arab Islamic American Summit.
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Trump meets with other heads of state in Riyadh on May 21.
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Trump speaks with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Gen. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
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First lady Melania Trump chats with children during a visit to the American International School in Riyadh on May 21.
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While in Riyadh, President Trump meets with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on May 21.
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President Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi share a laugh during a meeting on May 21. El-Sisi complimented Trump on his "unique personality that is capable of doing the impossible." Trump exchanged pleasantries back, praising el-Sisi's shoes.
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Trump is handed a sword during a welcoming ceremony at Riyadh's Murabba Palace on Saturday, May 20.
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Trump sits with members of his staff and Cabinet before a meeting with Saudi King Salman on May 20.
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Trump and King Salman take part in a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh on May 20. The two leaders oversaw the signing of a defense deal worth nearly $110 billion.
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The Trumps look at a display of modern art at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh.
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King Salman presents Trump with a gilded necklace and medal, the country's highest honor. The distinction also was bestowed upon Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush.
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The first lady chats with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef at the medal ceremony on May 20.
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Ivanka Trump attends the medal ceremony.
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Trump meets with King Salman after arriving in Riyadh on May 20.
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Soldiers on horseback carry the US and Saudi flags as they escort Trump to the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh.
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Trump is welcomed by King Salman after arriving at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
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The Trumps take part in the welcome ceremony.
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The President and first lady wave from Air Force One after landing in Riyadh.
“Every chance creates an opportunity,” Rivlin told Trump on Monday.
Former US officials and experts on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have acknowledged the increasing rapprochement between Israel and Arab enemies of Iran, but have cautioned that the political conditions between Israelis and Palestinians have gone largely unchanged in recent years.
“Many of the Gulf Arabs have increasingly awakened to the reality that their real challenge comes not from Israel, but rather from Iran, and the prospects of their uniting to do something to try to reduce their differences with Israel … creates an opportunity,” former Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell said Monday on CNN. “On the other hand, the differences between the Israelis and the Palestinians are as wide and deep as ever and there’s a high level of mistrust and hostility not just between the peoples but between the two leaders themselves.”
Trump will seek to bridge those divides as he meets with Netanyahu on Monday and heads to the West Bank on Tuesday to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said although the three men won’t meet together during Trump’s visit this week, he said he things “there will certainly be opportunities for that in the future.”
