Report: Trump administration developing post-war plan to contain Iran, expand Israel ties

The Trump administration is developing a broader Middle East strategy for the period following the war with Iran, with a focus on containing Tehran through regional cooperation and expanding normalization between Israel and its neighbors, according to an Axios report on Friday citing two US officials and two other sources familiar with the discussions. The strategy remains in the early drafting stages and is intended to shape US policy in the Middle East through the final two years of President Donald Trump's term. The planning is taking place against the backdrop of two major upcoming political events: Israel's October 27 election and the US midterm elections in November. According to US officials, work on the strategy is being conducted both by senior political figures within the Trump administration and by officials working across various government agencies. Sources said Trump has discussed the emerging strategy during two meetings with senior advisers in recent weeks, where possible approaches were considered. Axios reported that Trump has also privately said he is working on "something much bigger" for the Middle East once the war with Iran ends. The White House declined to comment. Three potential components have emerged from the discussions. One would seek to establish a regional bloc of US allies aimed at containing Iran, with Washington serving as a guarantor. Another would seek to bring the regional consequences of the October 7, 2023 attacks closer to an end. Possible measures include advancing the next phase of Trump's Gaza plan, reaching a security agreement between Israel and Syria and implementing the agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The third element under consideration would involve expanding the Abraham Accords and securing a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Related articles: A source familiar with the process said several more weeks would be needed to complete the strategy. "They are cooking it, but it is not yet cooked," the source told Axios . "The idea is to tie a whole lot of things in the region together - how you create a regional alignment after the war. It is still unclear if all US allies in the region will be on board," the person added. (Arutz Sheva-Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)