Any US-Iran deal will ensure security of Gulf allies, Rubio assures GCC nations during Mideast tour

Lead

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrapped up a three-day tour of the Gulf on Thursday with a message of reassurance to allies wary of the preliminary accord with Iran, telling a meeting of Gulf foreign ministers that any deal would take their interests into account. Speaking in Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, Rubio said Washington was seeking an enduring peace with long-time foe Iran that would not undermine the security and prosperity of its regional partners.

Coverage comparison

Rubio's remarks, reported by Dawn, the South China Morning Post, and The Guardian, came at a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), where he sought to address concerns that the accord is too soft on Iran. The Guardian noted that Rubio's trip was the first high-level diplomatic mission since the US-Iran framework agreement last week to end the war on Iran, and that he had acknowledged the delicacy of his task as he tried to win over Gulf Arab leaders wary that excessive concessions could strengthen Tehran.

The South China Morning Post and Dawn both highlighted Rubio's statement that "no country on Earth has the right to charge for the use of international waterways," and that such fees would never be part of any deal. The Guardian quoted Rubio telling reporters that if Iran threatens or blocks ships in the Strait of Hormuz, "then we're going to have a problem."

Meanwhile, TASS reported Rubio denying that Israel is trying to undermine the deal. Responding to a Washington Post report that US intelligence had warned the White House of Israeli efforts to disrupt the accord, Rubio said: "The Israelis exactly know what we're working on. All of our partners in the region know what we're working on. Everybody understands what the president's red lines and positions are on this."

TASS also carried a warning from a high-ranking Iranian source that Rubio's "aggressive stance" during his tour risks "jeopardizing the hard-won deal." The source accused the US of trying to pressure Iran into "parallel negotiations" to limit its regional allies and alleged a US-EU scheme to "neutralize" Iran, with Europe using statements on Iran's missile program to pressure Tehran.

Key claims

• Rubio stated that any deal with Iran would take into account the interests of Gulf allies, according to Dawn and the South China Morning Post.
• Gulf states, notably the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain, fear the deal hands Iran substantial sums that could be poured into its military, as reported by The Guardian.
• Iran is expecting roughly $6 billion of its assets locked in Qatar due to US sanctions to be unfrozen, The Guardian reported. The US Treasury's decision to issue a sanctions waiver on Iranian oil exports will allow Iran to receive at least $8 billion of income over the next two months, the same outlet said.
• President Donald Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that the unfrozen assets would remain under US control and be used for food and medical supplies, and that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections far into the future, The Guardian reported. Iranian sources have denied making such concessions, the same outlet noted.
• Iran took effective control of the vital Strait of Hormuz during the conflict, disrupting oil flows, as reported by Dawn and the South China Morning Post.
• Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani welcomed Oman's announcement of a corridor for safe passage of vessels through the strait, Dawn reported.
• The US and Iran recently signed a memorandum of understanding calling for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, and held negotiations on implementation on June 21-22 in Switzerland, mediated by Doha and Islamabad, TASS reported.
• Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is working with Oman on a long-term agreement to manage the Strait of Hormuz, according to a claim carried by a single outlet (Dawn) and not yet independently verified.
• Iranian sources believe the US is trying to pressure Iran into "parallel negotiations" to limit its "axis of resistance," TASS reported, and that Europe is attempting to pressure Tehran through statements on its missile program. Iran will not compromise on its regional allies or its missile program, the source said.

Perspectives

United States (Marco Rubio): Any deal with Iran will protect Gulf allies' interests, and no country has the right to charge for use of international waterways. Israel knows the president's red lines and is not trying to undermine the accord.

Gulf states (via media reports): Several Gulf nations, including the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain, fear the deal is too soft and could give Iran funds to bolster its military.

Iran (via TASS source): US statements during Rubio's tour threaten to derail the deal, and Iran will not negotiate over its regional allies or missile program despite US and European pressure.