US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on Sunday that he expected normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia to happen this year, so long as Iran is contained. Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, Graham sent a direct message to both Riyadh and Jerusalem that they had “no better friend” than President Donald Trump, and that now was the time to reopen negotiations on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords.

October 2023 framework derailed by Hamas attack

Graham disclosed that a framework agreement for Saudi Arabia to join the Accords had been on the verge of announcement at the end of October 2023 — a plan upended entirely by the Hamas-led attack on Israel. He acknowledged the political weight that episode still carries on both sides.

“That created a real problem. The Arab world is very upset about Gaza, and everybody in Israel is very upset about October 7, but we’re going to pick up where we left off,” he said.

Saudi Arabia has consistently maintained that it will not normalize ties with Israel without a credible pathway toward an independent Palestinian state — a condition that complicates, though Graham argues does not prevent, the broader effort. President Trump said in recent weeks that it “should be mandatory” that “all countries” sign on to the Abraham Accords once a deal with Iran is concluded.

A direct message to Netanyahu

Graham’s CBS appearance came amid rare criticism of Israel by President Trump, who has warned Iran to stop its proxy group Hezbollah from “causing trouble” while also accusing Israel of killing too many people in Lebanon. Against that backdrop, Graham used his platform to relay a pointed message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Graham reminded the Israeli prime minister that Trump had stood by him “when other people wouldn’t,” framing the current moment as one that requires reciprocal political courage from Jerusalem.

From harsh critic to cautious endorser

Graham’s tone on the Iran deal has shifted notably in recent days. He initially issued strong criticism of the proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran, describing it as akin to “a Marshall Plan for Germany with the Nazis still in charge.” He has since softened his position, saying he now expects countries in the Arab world to fund the reconstruction effort rather than Washington.

Last week, Graham posted on X that the “ultimate win” of the conflict with Iran would be to “open up a pathway to peace” through Abraham Accords expansion. “If the conflict with Iran yields this outcome, it will be one of the most successful military operations in American history,” he wrote.

Switzerland talks and the road ahead

Graham’s comments come as US and Iranian negotiators continue to meet in Switzerland to finalise a peace deal. The conflict began in late February when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran. The diplomatic window is open, but Graham made clear his view: whether Tehran agrees to terms or faces continued isolation, the strategic outcome for Saudi–Israel normalization can be the same.