US President Donald Trump caught the attention of the whole world by writing a post on the social media platform Truth Social on May 25, 2026. He made a big appeal to the leaders of Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, UAE and Bahrain. Trump clearly said that now is the time for all of you to strengthen relations with Israel and sign the Abraham Accords. Trump called it a ‘Mandatory Request’. He even said that countries which will not do so should not be part of the Iran deal. This proves their bad intentions.

Just before this, on Saturday, Trump had held a conference call with the leaders of these eight countries. According to the report of American news outlet Axios, when Trump raised the issue of recognizing Israel during the call, there was silence on the line for a few moments. Many leaders were surprised to hear this demand. But the question is, is this the Abraham Accord?

What is the Abraham Accords?

Abraham Accords is not a single document, rather it is a series of many agreements. Through this, Arab and Muslim countries normalize their relations with Israel and strengthen entire diplomatic relations. These agreements were brokered by the US and are considered the biggest foreign policy achievements of Trump’s first term (2017-2021).

Talking about the name, ‘Abraham’ i.e. Hazrat Ibrahim, who is considered a big personality in all the three religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. These agreements are based on the spirit of peace and brotherhood among the three religions. Its biggest specialty is that it broke a decades-old unwritten condition of the Middle East. The traditional stance of the Arab countries was that they would not recognize Israel until the Palestinians became an independent country. The Abraham Accords broke precisely this barrier.

When and how did the Abraham Accords begin?

15 September 2020. The White House Lawn in Washington, DC. On one side Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the other side UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al-Zayani. All three signed a document that changed the political map of the Middle East.

Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner played an important role in concluding this agreement. The UAE and Bahrain became the first Arab countries to formally recognize Israel since 1994. After this, Morocco (December 2020), Sudan (January 2021) and most recently Kazakhstan (November 2025) also joined this agreement.

At present five countries are part of the Abraham Accord. Additionally, Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) have already signed peace agreements with Israel.

What effect did the Abraham Records have on Israel?

Until five years ago, Israeli citizens could not travel to the Gulf countries. Direct phone calls from UAE to Israel were also blocked. But everything changed after the Abraham Accords.

• Business: The most shocking figure is that of trade. In 2020, trade between Israel and UAE was just over $50 million, but in 2024 it will increase to more than $3.3 billion (about Rs 27,500 crore). Between 2021 and 2024, trade between Israel and Abraham Accord countries increased by 127%. In 2023, the total trade of these countries with Israel will cross $4 billion, which was 16% more than 2022.
• Tourism and air connectivity: Today there are many flights daily between Dubai and Tel Aviv. 10% of Ben-Gurion Airport’s traffic is now on UAE routes.
• Trump’s claim: Trump wrote in his post that ‘Abraham Accord has proved to be an economic, financial and social boom for the countries involved in it (UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and Kazakhstan). So much so that even in this era of war and conflict, the current members never even talked about leaving or stopping it.

Abraham Accord does not solve Palestine issue

The biggest weakness of the Abraham Accords is that it completely ignores the Israel-Palestine issue. Palestinian leaders called it a ‘stab in the back’ and accused Arab countries of betraying the Palestinians. These agreements are not particularly popular among the common people in the Middle East. The main reason for this is that they do not find a solution to the Palestinian issue.

Experts say that ‘the biggest problem is that the Abraham Accord tries to erase Palestinians from the map.’ The Hamas attack of October 2023 and the subsequent Israeli action in Gaza severely tested the strength of these agreements. But despite this, no country has yet backed out from the agreement.

What does Trump want now?

Trump clearly said, ‘This should start with the immediate signing of Saudi Arabia and Qatar and everyone else should follow their lead.’ He warned that countries which do not do so should not be part of the Iran deal. He also indicated that if there is a peace agreement with Iran, it would be an honor to include Iran in it.

Protests started immediately regarding this demand of Trump. Pakistan first rejected this proposal outright. A Pakistani security source said Trump is using Iran ceasefire diplomacy to push for a major expansion of the Abraham Accords, but ‘these two issues are not and cannot be linked.’ Pakistan is not bound to accept any such demand.

This matter is even more sensitive for Saudi Arabia. He is the birthplace of Islam and the guardian of the two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina. Its old stance is that until a clear roadmap is made for the state of Palestine, it will not recognize Israel.

So what will happen next in this case?

The story of Abraham Accord is not over yet. Trump wants to make this the biggest part of his legacy. He wrote, ‘The Middle East will be united, powerful and economically strong, perhaps like no other region of the world.’

But the ground reality is that the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Gaza war and the anger of the general Muslim public are the biggest obstacles in this path. Pakistan has already said no and other countries have maintained silence till now. Ali Waez, Crisis Group’s Iran project director, says, ‘Trump is trying to sell the Iran deal as a sequel to the Abraham Accords, but he is replacing one fantasy with another. From forcing Iran to surrender to pretending that a weak deal can lay the foundation for a new order in the Middle East.

Due to the war-like situation in the Middle East and the instability on the Strait of Hormuz, many countries of the world are facing severe shortage of crude oil and gas. There is currently a huge shortage of oil and gas in Iran’s neighbor Pakistan. This is the reason why a cargo ship filled with gas from Qatar is reaching Pakistan. Recently, a cargo ship reached Pakistan under an agreement between Iran and Pakistan. Now again under special arrangement, Qatar’s second LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) tanker is going to Pakistan via the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran allowed to cross the Strait of Hormuz

According to shipping data of London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), tanker ‘Mihjem’ with capacity of 1,74,000 cubic meters is leaving Ras Laffan Port and heading towards Qasim Port in Pakistan. According to Reuters report, this tanker will reach Karachi on Tuesday (12 May 2026). Earlier on Saturday (9 May 2026), Iran had allowed Pakistan’s LNG tanker Al Kharaitiyat to pass through Hormuz. This ship crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday (10 May 2026).

Why was Iran so kind to Islamabad?

News agency Reuters quoted sources as saying that LNG is being sold to Pakistan under the agreement with the Qatar government. Pakistan is in the role of mediator regarding permanent peace between Iran and America. Iran had approved this consignment to strengthen the trust between Qatar and Pakistan. According to sources, two more tankers loaded from Qatar are expected to leave for Pakistan in the coming days.

Another source told Reuters on May 9 that Pakistan was in talks with Iran to allow a limited number of LNG tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This is being done because Pakistan needs gas immediately. Qatar is the main LNG supplier to Pakistan. Qatar is the world’s second largest exporter of LNG and its supplies go to Asian countries, mostly India and China.

Also read: The last hope for peace in the Middle East is over! US rejects Iran’s offer, oil prices on fire due to Hormud Bandh

Amidst the ongoing war in the Middle East, the US Air Force’s KC-135 Strato tanker has suddenly come into the limelight. This aircraft, which is called Flying Gas Station because of its ability to fill fuel in the air, disappeared from the radar after sending an emergency signal during the flight. After this many questions have arisen.

According to flight-tracking data, the Boeing KC-135 telecasted squawk code 7700 near Qatar, an international emergency signal. It is used when the aircraft is facing a serious situation. Shortly after this the plane disappeared from radar. It is believed that at that time it was moving towards a military base.

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Last location and possible reasons

According to the report, the plane lost its altitude and lost signal over the Strait of Hormuz after turning towards Qatar. It is also being said that the aircraft was on an air-to-air refueling mission over the Gulf at that time. 7700 code can be triggered due to many reasons, such as technical fault, fire, medical emergency or any external threat.

completely disappeared after an hour

According to Gulf News, about an hour after the emergency code appeared, the plane’s transponder signal stopped completely. However, mere loss of signal does not confirm an accident, but its occurrence after an emergency alert raises concerns. So far there has been no official confirmation of any wreck, distress call, rescue operation or marine alert. It is also unclear how many crew members were on board, although the KC-135 is typically operated with a limited crew.

Why is this matter important?

The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for global oil supply. Any military or technological incident in this area can have an impact not only at the regional but also at the international level. In such a situation, the sudden disappearance of KC-135 is considered important from both security and strategic point of view.

Also read: Iran-US War: Internal turmoil created between America-Iran war, superpower America stuck in Hormuz, big impact on the world

Gulf Countries Meeting amid Middle East Tension: Qatar has requested for a meeting with the leaders of Gulf countries regarding the tension in the Middle East. It says that the Strait of Hormuz, the most important waterway from the global point of view, should not be used to create pressure.

This request has been made by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dr. Majid bin Mohammad Al-Ansari on behalf of Qatar. He said that this is a natural route. It cannot be held hostage to political or military conflict.

Apart from this, Qatar has said in a warning tone that the use of this important waterway to create pressure in the Iran-America war is unacceptable. Also called out that this will have an impact on the security of the world’s energy sector. An appeal was also made to resume safe shipping immediately.

Thousands of ships stranded in Hormuz

These comments have come at a time when 20 percent of global oil is in danger. Thousands of ships are stranded. This is forcing insurance companies to cancel coverage against risks and losses caused by war. Besides, the premium cost has also increased.

A meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries was held regarding the situation in the Middle East and the military blockade on Hormuz. It was in this meeting that it was talked about opening Hormuz. This proposal keeps the navy out of broader nuclear discussions.

Gulf countries meeting held under international pressure
Now the question is arising whether the meeting of Gulf countries held on Monday was due to some international pressure? The reason for this is US President Donald Trump who is reviewing the Iranian plan to reopen Hormuz.

Here, America has also threatened military action if the waterway remains closed. Qatari officials said that the situation remains serious. There are fears that the closure of Hormuz could turn into a permanent conflict. This will affect long-term regional stability.

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Diplomatic efforts have intensified amid the ongoing war in West Asia. In this context, a new round of talks between Iran and America is likely to take place in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Monday (April 20, 2026). According to Iranian officials, delegations from both the countries can reach Islamabad on Sunday (19 April 2026).

According to Aljazeera’s report, this conversation is taking place at a time when continuous efforts are being made to stop the war in the entire region. Meanwhile, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. In this meeting, emphasis was laid on establishing peace in the area and finding a solution through dialogue. Qatar and Turkey have also appreciated Pakistan’s role in this direction.

Asim Munir’s visit to Iran

This meeting took place during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum held in Turkey, where leaders of many countries were present. On the other hand, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir met Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf in Tehran on Thursday. This meeting is also considered to be a part of efforts to restart the stalled talks between America and Iran. Asim Munir reached Tehran on Wednesday, where he was welcomed by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The purpose of this visit is to create an environment for the second round of talks between the two countries, because no concrete result could be achieved in the earlier talks.

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Talks mediated by Pakistan

The peace talks held in Islamabad on 11 and 12 April were an important effort, in which there was talk of ending the 39-day war between America and Iran. This conversation mediated by Pakistan was historic, but no result could be achieved. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has made another big announcement saying that a 10-day ceasefire has been implemented between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. This is being considered an important step towards reducing tension in the area. During this, US President Donald Trump said that he talked to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after which both sides agreed to this temporary ceasefire. This step has been taken at a time when the situation on the Israel-Lebanon border was quite tense.

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US Iran War: A major change is being seen in the defense policy of the Gulf countries. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar no longer want to be completely dependent on America for their defense weapons. Amidst the increasing threat of missile attacks and drone attacks, these countries have taken steps towards diversifying their security strategy.

Resentment increased due to delay of American weapons and security concerns

In the last few years, Arab countries have spent hundreds of billions of dollars on defense, but despite this they have not been able to get complete security. Delay in the supply of American weapons and the Pentagon’s long waiting list have increased the concern of the Gulf countries. Especially after the Ukraine war, there has been a change in America’s priorities, due to which the supply of Patriot missiles has been affected.

New defense partnership between Saudi, UAE and Qatar

Now Saudi Arabia is in talks with Japanese and South Korean companies for the purchase of defense equipment.

• Saudi Arabia is considering taking components of Patriot missile system from Japan
• Talks are underway on M SAM missile system with South Korean companies Hanwha and LIG Nex1
• UAE has already deployed South Korea’s missile defense system
• Gulf countries are also showing interest in purchasing drones and electronic warfare systems from Ukraine.

Increased security need after 2019 attacks

The attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil bases in 2019 exposed the weaknesses of the security system. After this the Gulf countries strengthened their air defense systems. In recent conflicts they have also succeeded in intercepting up to 85% of Iranian missiles and drones.

Global power balance shift visible at Riyadh defense exhibition
The presence of Chinese, Russian and Turkish companies along with American companies in the defense exhibition organized in Riyadh has made the changing equations clear. Gulf countries now not only want to buy weapons but also want to produce them in their country. However, Western companies are still cautious in sharing technology, which is increasing tensions.

Officials’ statement and new strategy

Saudi and UAE officials have said they will continue to cooperate with the US, but are also building stronger defense ties with other countries. The UAE claimed that it now has a multi-layered air defense system, which strengthens regional security.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has also indicated that his country will no longer give a major part of its defense budget to America. Britain is also emphasizing on increasing defense supply speed and self-reliance.

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Qatar Resumes Maritime Traffic: Maritime transport has resumed for all ships in Qatar on Sunday. This signals the resumption of maritime traffic that had been closed for several days due to regional tensions. The Qatar Transport Ministry said that navigation in the country’s waters has been fully restored. According to the ministry, this decision has been taken after continuous assessment of the security committee and coordination with the concerned authorities.

Officials believe that this step will bring stability to the surrounding water areas. This has allowed commercial and private vessels to operate safely. All ships can now operate in the morning and evening with scheduled timings. This will ensure controlled but steady traffic. This opening is a promising sign of the future. Earlier, fishing vessels were allowed. Earlier, precautions were being taken in these areas. Now gradually the restrictions are being relaxed.

Government said- special care will be taken for security

The government has made it clear that the security of the area is of top priority. Everyone has to follow maritime rules. These include communication, and ensuring the suitability of ships. The ministry has warned against arbitrary price increases in maritime services. Apart from this, the Ministry has clearly said that any attempt to take commercial advantage will be strictly monitored.

After this decision of the government, now the trade and logistics sectors are expected to get a boost after allowing transport on sea routes. Apart from this, ports, freight operators and supply chains are expected to get relief.

Experts say that this step gives a strong signal of stability in the maritime sector of the Gulf. At a time when security remains an important concern for global trade. Now that all types of ships have been allowed to operate, Qatar’s maritime sector is ready to pick up pace again.

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When US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire in the Iran war on April 8, the first thing you might have thought was that oil and gas would now become cheaper. The old happy days will return again, but wait… you are wrong. Even though the ceasefire has opened the Strait of Hormuz, it will take months for oil and gas prices to come down. Now the question arises that when will we get relief from this shortage? So let’s understand in the explainer…

Question 1: How much did the prices of oil and gas fall after the opening of the Strait of Hormuz?
answer: The news of the opening of the Strait of Hormuz after the ceasefire on April 8 caused a significant decline in global energy prices, but this decline has still not reached pre-war levels. According to Reuters reports, Brent crude oil prices fell by about 15-16 percent to $ 93.73 per barrel after the ceasefire announcement, which was at a high of $ 110-120 in the previous days.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also fell to $94.52, a decline of about $18. Natural gas futures have declined by about 5 percent. Its impact on LPG prices in India is still visible indirectly. Commercial LPG has become a little cheaper, but the subsidized prices of domestic cylinders have not yet reduced, because imports have not yet normalized completely.

Question 2: Then oil and gas will be available cheap and there will be no shortage?
answer: No, gas will neither become completely cheap nor will the shortage completely end. This is only initial relief, not complete relief. Reports from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) make it clear that despite the opening of Hormuz, fuel prices may remain high for several months as it will take time to fully restore the supply chain. The war has caused heavy damage to oil-gas fields, refineries and storage plants in the Persian Gulf, especially Qatar’s Ras Laffan natural gas hub, which produces 20 percent of the world’s LNG.

Experts say that opening of Hormuz is just the ‘first step’, but the entire Persian Gulf energy system will be normal within months. 60 percent of the demand for LPG in India comes from the Middle East, so the shortage will continue. Black market is running in Delhi and delay in delivery continues. Some ships are now transiting, but cheap and plentiful gas will not be available until full supplies are restored.

Question 3: Why will these problems not end even after the opening of Hormuz?
answer: Even after the opening of Hormuz, the problems will not end because the war has scattered not only the road but the entire energy infrastructure. Oil-gas wells, pipelines, refineries and storage facilities have been damaged. Thousands of tankers are stuck, workers are scattered and repair work is pending.

EIA has clearly stated that ‘full restoration will take months’ as it takes time to restart production, repair damaged plants and clear the backlog. Ras Laffan Hub’s 17 percent capacity is still in loss and may take years to repair. There will be a shortage of LPG in importing countries like India because 90 percent of the supply comes through this route and alternative sources (America, Russia) are not yet ready on that large a scale. The risk premium in prices will remain due to supply disruptions caused by the war, even if the route is opened.

Question 4: When will gas and oil be available normally?
answer: Experts believe that it will take several months to get gas and oil normally. Some production may begin within weeks, but it will take 3-6 months or more for the entire supply chain and production levels to return to pre-war levels.

According to the EIA report, it will take months for the Strait of Hormuz to be completely restored. According to media reports, it may take 6 weeks to transport the 170 million barrels of oil stuck in tankers to the refiners of Asia. It will take even more time to repair some plants in Qatar and UAE. The situation of LPG in India will be completely normal only when these global flows are restored. At present the government is increasing alternative imports and domestic production, but real relief will have to wait.

Track 2 channels are unofficially active between India and Pakistan. In February 2026, a meeting of Indian and Pakistani representatives was held in Doha, in which both the sides talked informally. Representatives of India and Pakistan met under Track-2 talks.

According to a report by WION, when relations are officially severed, the inputs received from these meetings help in accurately assessing the situation. However, since these are informal talks, no statement is issued after these meetings. The biggest thing is that no country officially confirms or denies them.

What is track-2 (back channel) conversation?
Track-2 i.e. back channel talks are informal talks between former officials, journalists, business leaders and representatives of civil society. The aim of this dialogue is to establish trust, test new ideas and create space for mutual understanding by staying away from politics and media. Track-1 is formal talks, in which government-to-government talks take place.

Track-1.5 Talks
Whenever relations between countries deteriorate across the world, Track-1.5 diplomacy is resorted to. In this, officials informally meet outsiders. Similar informal meetings took place between Israeli academics and PLO representatives in Norway in the early stages of the 1993 Oslo Accords. India has also used this behind-the-scenes diplomacy in many global affairs.

How to improve India-China relations
After the 2020 Galwan clash, India and China had stopped official contacts, but the round of Track-2 talks continued. Due to this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping met during the SCO summit in Tianjin in 2025. After a gap of 5 years, direct flights between the two countries resumed in October 2025. Trade and public relations are also gradually being restored. There is also a possibility of Xi Jinping coming to India for the BRICS conference this year.

What happened after Nijjar’s murder
India-Canada relations had reached the lowest level after the allegations of murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, but after Track-1.5 diplomacy, both the countries showed pragmatism. The meetings of PM Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the G7 in June 2025 and the G20 in November have reset relations. Carney’s visit to India in early 2026 yielded concrete results.

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Pakistan’s activism now seems to be overshadowing the ongoing war in the Middle East. After the attack on Iran by America and Israel, Pakistan seemed to be continuously active on every front, but now it is having to suffer the consequences of this.

On one hand, Pakistan is entangled in managing relations with both Iran and America, while on the other hand, its position has become further weakened due to the open presence of Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Pakistan was presenting itself as a peace-making country, but its efforts also failed. Now he seems to be getting punished for his actions.

Qatar gave a shock
The West Asian country Qatar has given a big blow to Pakistan. The Qatar government has currently stopped the visa on arrival facility for Pakistani citizens. After this decision, Pakistanis going to Qatar will have to face a lot of trouble. The Embassy of Pakistan has said in an advisory issued on Tuesday that travelers arriving in Qatar without prior visa may face problems at the airport and may even be stopped from entry.

Embassy warning
The Pakistani Embassy in Qatar has clearly said that due to the current situation, visa on arrival facility is not available right now. All Pakistani citizens will have to obtain the necessary visa before going to Qatar, otherwise they may face problems.

The embassy has also said that now it has been made mandatory to obtain a visa before traveling to Qatar. In the new travel advisory, the current situation in Qatar has been cited as the reason for this. Also, passengers have been asked to get information from the official website and other mediums before travelling, and if necessary, contact Qatari authorities or visa centre.

India continues to get facilities
While Pakistan is facing this problem, the impact of Qatar’s good relations with India is clearly visible. Despite the war-like situation, visa on arrival facility continues for Indian citizens.

From 28 February 2026, the Government of Qatar automatically extended by 30 days the validity of all entry visas which were about to expire. This facility was for those people who were already present in Qatar.

Rules for Indian travelers
The conditions for visa on arrival for new Indian travelers remain the same as before, such as hotel booking etc. are necessary. The most important thing is that even during the war, this facility for Indians was not stopped and was continued continuously. Under normal circumstances, the passport must be valid for at least six months to visit Qatar. Along with this, it is necessary to have a confirmed ticket for the return or onward journey and health insurance is also mandatory. Qatar is still offering 30 days free visa on arrival to Indian passport holders.