US wants Iran deal, but 'not at any price,' Rubio says

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday in Bahrain that the United States wants a deal with Iran, but 'not at any price.' Rubio, on a regional tour to reassure Gulf partners, emphasized that any agreement must not undermine the security, stability, or prosperity of their allies. He also dismissed the possibility of Iran charging fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a path to 'total chaos.'

The United States and Iran have signed a preliminary deal to end the conflict launched by the US and Israel in late February. Negotiations are expected to address Iran's nuclear program, sanctions relief, and global energy flows through the strait, where Iran has repeatedly targeted civilian vessels. However, Gulf countries and Israel have longstanding concerns about Iran's support for proxies and its missile program, and it remains unclear whether those topics will be covered in the talks.

Following a meeting with Rubio, foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council stressed that 'lasting regional peace and security requires addressing the full spectrum of Iran's threats,' including ballistic missiles, drones, and support for proxies.

Meanwhile, an attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz was reported. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the vessel was hit on the starboard side by an unknown projectile, damaging the bridge, with no casualties. The incident occurred 7.5 nautical miles off the coast of Oman. Subsequently, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez announced a pause in the evacuation plan for 600 ships trapped by the war, citing the need to reconfirm safety guarantees. The attacked ship was not part of the IMO evacuation framework that began on Tuesday.

Oman had earlier released a map of a new temporary shipping route close to its coast, coordinated with the IMO. Iran's Revolutionary Guards later denounced the new corridor, but did not specifically mention Oman. However, Oman's top diplomat Badr Albusaidi, after meeting Rubio, said plans for Hormuz 'do not entail the imposition of any transit fees,' despite a previous joint statement with Iran about studying costs for services in the strait.

A memorandum of understanding signed last week by Washington and Tehran stipulates that commercial ships may transit the strait free of charge for the next 60 days. It is unclear what arrangements will be in place after that period.