Rubio Assures Gulf Allies on US-Iran Deal During Mideast Tour

First Published 4 hours ago

2 Updates by 2 sources

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured Gulf allies on Thursday, June 25, that any potential deal with Iran would take their security interests into account. The assurance came during a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Bahrain as part of a Middle East tour to address regional concerns over a preliminary US-Iran accord.

The tour is the first high-level diplomatic mission since a framework agreement was reached last week to end a war that began in late February. The conflict involved US-Israeli strikes on Iran, with Tehran retaliating against US assets in Gulf countries and disrupting oil flows by taking effective control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking in Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, Rubio stated that Washington was seeking an enduring peace that would not undermine its allies. “We’re not going to do anything that undermines the security of our allies, our longstanding allies in the region,” he said, addressing fears that the accord is too soft on Iran.

Rubio also commented on the vital waterway, stating, “no country on Earth has the right to charge for the use of international waterways. And that will never be an acceptable condition of any deal.”

During the gathering, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani welcomed an announcement from Oman regarding a corridor for the safe passage of vessels through the strait. Rubio’s three-day tour also included stops in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, where he delivered similar messages.

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