US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy-designate Steve Witkoff gives a speech at the inaugural parade inside Capital One Arena on the inauguration day of Trump’s second presidential term, in Washington, DC, Jan. 20, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, hinted that the Trump administration will soon reveal “many announcements related to the expansion of the Abraham Accords.”

Witkoff made the statements while delivering an address at the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC on Monday to mark the Jewish State’s 77th Independence Day. 

“We think [we] will have some, or a lot of announcements, very, very shortly, which we hope will yield great progress by next year,” Witkoff told the audience. 

During the first Trump administration from 2017-2021, the White House helped broker the Abraham Accords, a series of historic normalization agreements between Israel and several countries in the Arab world. These agreements are credited with helping to stabilize the relationship between Israel and many of its neighbors. 

Since returning to the White House, Trump has vowed to expand on the Abraham Accords, arguing that bolstering the normalization agreements 

Witkoff also briefly touched on the administration’s ongoing negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, promising the audience that Tehran will “not have a nuclear weapon.” 

“I hope we’re moving in the right direction,” Witkoff told the crowd. “The President has stated his desire to resolve this issue diplomatically if possible, and we are working toward an agreement. Efforts are now underway to coordinate a fourth round of talks.”

Negotiations between the US and Iran regarding a potential deal over the latter’s nuclear program began this last month in Oman. The White House touted the deliberations as “positive and constructive” and confirmed future rounds of negotiations.

Iran has claimed that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes rather than building weapons. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s nuclear watchdog, reported last year that Iran had greatly accelerated uranium enrichment to close to weapons grade at its Fordow site dug into a mountain.

US officials also revealed that Witkoff maintains “almost daily” contact with mediators in Qatar and Egypt as part of efforts to secure the release of the remaining 59 hostages in Gaza. 

“Our celebration is bittersweet because 59 hostages are still being held by Hamas. I remember when the female soldiers were released, and I sang ‘Am Yisrael Chai’ with them. I thought that was the most emotional moment of my life,” Witkoff said.