Rubio in Middle East tour says any Iran deal will ensure security of Gulf allies
Reuters. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Gulf Arab allies on Thursday (June 25) that any deal with Iran would take their interests into account, as he wrapped up a Middle East trip aimed at selling the Trump administration's preliminary accord to skeptical regional partners.
Speaking at a meeting of Gulf Arab foreign ministers and officials in Bahrain — home to the U.S. 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 allies in the oil-rich region, which fear the accord is too soft on Iran after it attacked them in the war.
"We're not going to do anything that undermines the security of our allies, our longstanding allies in the region," he told reporters in Kuwait.
Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, who chaired the gathering, welcomed Oman's announcement of a corridor for the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
