Senator Rubio assures Gulf nations of Iran deals security benefits

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Embarks on Gulf Tour Amid Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has completed a three-day diplomatic tour of the Gulf region, marking the first high-level visit since the US and Iran agreed to extend their ceasefire and hold talks on a permanent end to their conflict. During his trip, Rubio met with Gulf Arab foreign ministers and officials in Bahrain, where he emphasized Washington’s commitment to ensuring any deal with Iran prioritizes the security interests of its allies in the region.

Rubio acknowledged the sensitivity of his mission, seeking to reassure Gulf leaders that the US is open to a lasting peace with Iran without compromising the security and prosperity of its regional partners. He stated that the proposed agreement would be “enduring and real” and would not undermine the security of the US or its allies.

During previous stops in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, Rubio assured officials that the proposed deal was not overly favorable to Iran, which had attacked several Gulf states during the conflict. The draft agreement includes provisions that could expand Tehran’s regional influence and control over critical oil shipping lanes, but Rubio has declined to ask regional allies to contribute to a proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund.

Rubio’s tour comes as the US and Iran continue to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ending their more than 100-day conflict. The MoU includes no limits on Iran’s ballistic missiles and provisions that could expand Tehran’s regional influence, but Rubio has emphasized Washington’s commitment to ensuring any deal prioritizes the security interests of its allies in the region.

Source: Al Jazeera