Biden heads to the Middle East

President Joe Biden will visit Israel and Saudi Arabia to continue talks on improving relations between the two countries. This is Biden’s first trip to the Middle East since becoming president. He’s embracing the Trump-era Abraham Accords, which shifted focus from Palestine-Israel relations to Saudi Arabia-Israel relations. The White House said the Abraham Accords are more achievable than the old policy. Biden is also expected to announce talks with Palestinian leaders on defense and aid for their hospitals. He’ll meet with 11 world leaders before coming back to the United States.

What would make the trip a success? Israeli leaders said the Iran nuclear deal is at the top of their agenda because of Iran’s gains in nuclear technology. Iran’s indirect talks with the U.S. have stalled recently, though Biden said he planned on reviving the deal. Israeli officials said the U.S. and Israel on Thursday will announce a roadmap for the countries’ relationship in the coming years. In Saudi Arabia, the White House’s agenda is stabilizing oil markets and discussing human rights issues, Biden wrote earlier this week.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift on the latest in the Iran nuclear deal.