Trump Administration's Middle East Priorities: Hostages, Gaza, and Iran

In an exclusive interview with Le Point, Massad Boulos, President-elect Donald Trump’s newly-appointed Middle East Advisor, outlined the incoming administration's key priorities for the region. The immediate focus, according to Boulos, is securing the release of hostages without further delay, emphasizing that their release should not be tied to the broader political issues in Gaza.

Boulos made it clear that the Trump administration views the release of hostages as a top priority. Several countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and Turkey, are reportedly assisting in efforts to facilitate this release. However, Boulos stressed that while the hostages' release should be urgent, it should not be directly connected to broader negotiations about the future of Gaza.

The Trump administration is advocating for a temporary ceasefire as a framework for negotiating the release, with Boulos noting that Turkey, though influential, should not replace Qatar’s role as the primary mediator in the negotiations with Hamas.

Future of Gaza and Israel

While discussions about the future of Gaza are expected, Boulos pointed out that there has been no formal policy regarding Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s controversial plan to annex the West Bank. However, he assured that by January 20, a clear policy from the Trump administration would be outlined and respected.

Boulos also acknowledged that discussions about a Palestinian state could be part of future conversations between the U.S. and Israel, though, according to him, Saudi Arabia has not yet pushed for such a solution. The administration’s approach is centered around a more gradual path toward regional stability, focusing on agreements like the Abraham Accords, with Saudi Arabia as the central player.

Iran and Nuclear Concerns

Trump's Middle East strategy also places a strong emphasis on countering Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Boulos confirmed that the president-elect is committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, reiterating that maximum pressure would be applied once again. While Trump is not seeking regime change in Iran, he is focused on three critical issues: preventing a nuclear Iran, curbing the regime's ballistic missile program, and addressing the growing threat posed by Iranian-backed militias across the region, including in Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.