Rubio Assures Gulf Allies on Iran Deal

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio concluded his Middle East tour in Bahrain on Thursday, following visits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait. His mission aimed to address Gulf allies' concerns over President Donald Trump's recent Iran deal, which seeks to end hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and provide sanctions relief while delaying nuclear negotiations for 60 days.

Rubio emphasized the U.S. commitment to regional security and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. 'No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway,' he stated during a news conference in Manama, according to multiple reports. He warned that any Iranian tolls on ships traversing the Strait would spread globally like a contagion.

Gulf states expressed worries that the accord might embolden Tehran, particularly due to a proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran. According to Reuters, Rubio stated that this fund would not materialize unless 'its leadership makes a decision that they want to be a country instead of a revolutionary movement that exports terror.' The draft agreement also includes no limits on Iran's ballistic missiles, raising further concerns among Gulf allies.

Rubio acknowledged the delicate nature of his mission in pitching the peace deal to Gulf Arab leaders who fear excessive concessions will strengthen Tehran and reshape the region's security balance. Arriving in Bahrain's capital Manama, which hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, Rubio also met with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a grouping of six Sunni monarchies that includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Rubio said during a news conference in Manama that a reconstruction fund for Iran was not discussed with Gulf countries. He assured regional allies that the U.S. would not undermine their security. 'We are open for peace that is enduring and real and doesn’t undermine security and prosperity for the US or its allies,' he added.

President Trump claimed that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections 'into infinity,' while Tehran denied making any such concession. The two countries have also offered conflicting accounts about financial incentives for Iran, control of the Strait of Hormuz, and Israel's parallel war in Lebanon. Some U.S. Gulf allies are privately disappointed over the interim deal, which could open the door to U.S. normalization with Iran.

Meanwhile, tensions continue in Lebanon despite ongoing diplomacy and a ceasefire. Two people were killed in an Israeli strike on the southern city of Nabatieh while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces would remain in southern Lebanon even if the US called for a withdrawal.