Massad Boulos, the newly appointed special advisor for Arab and Middle East affairs, discussed President-elect Donald Trump’s priorities for the region in an interview with the French newspaper Le Point on Tuesday.

Boulos emphasized that the immediate priority for the incoming administration is the release of hostages, with Trump demanding their freedom before his inauguration. He stressed that failing to secure their release would have severe consequences for the region.

Boulos also clarified that Trump does not intend to link the hostages’ release to broader issues concerning Gaza’s future governance. He stated that the president believes the hostages should be freed without delay and should not be tied to any other political negotiations. Several countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and Turkey, are reportedly assisting in efforts to secure the hostages’ release.

After the hostages are freed, Boulos said the Trump administration would focus on expanding the Abraham Accords and pursuing a deal with Saudi Arabia. He pointed out that Trump believes an agreement with Saudi Arabia could pave the way for normalization with at least twelve other Arab nations.

While discussions on a “roadmap leading to a Palestinian state” are expected between the U.S. and Israel, Boulos acknowledged that both Palestinians and Israelis had rejected Trump’s previous peace plan. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is not demanding the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of its talks with Israel.

On Iran, Boulos noted that while Trump has committed to applying “maximum pressure” on the country, regime change is not a current priority. The focus, according to Boulos, is on three key issues: preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, addressing the threat posed by Iran’s ballistic missiles to both Israel and Gulf countries, and countering Iranian proxies across the region, including in Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.

Boulos expressed that his new role as Middle East advisor is both a significant honor and a great responsibility. He emphasized the administration’s vision of achieving lasting peace in the Middle East, with the goal of creating a sustainable future for the region’s future generations.