Rubio assures Gulf allies US will protect their interests in Iran peace talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday assured Gulf allies that the United States would protect their interests as it works toward a final agreement with Iran to end the Middle East war. Rubio, speaking in Kuwait City, said Washington would be "completely aligned" with Gulf partners and would consult them on every decision regarding the negotiations. He is on a regional tour to reassure Gulf states that were targeted by Iranian missiles and drones during the conflict and saw their oil and gas shipments blocked by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.

Rubio insisted the US would not do anything to undermine the security of its allies. He is due to attend a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Bahrain on Thursday after meeting with leaders of Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. The initial US-Iran agreement, which sets a 60-day negotiation window, did not address Gulf concerns about Iran's missile program and regional proxies. But Rubio emphasized Washington's commitment to preserving toll-free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran, however, has portrayed the deal as a victory. Its chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Wednesday that the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was "a declaration of America's defeat." Iran has repeatedly stated it intends to control the strait alongside Oman and charge maritime service fees. US President Donald Trump called such fees "unacceptable" and also asked Congress for nearly $88 billion in supplemental funding, mostly for Pentagon costs related to the Iran war.

Meanwhile, Qatar's prime minister traveled to Oman to initiate talks on the strait involving Gulf states, Iraq, and Iran. A diplomat said Gulf countries will push for free navigation, while Iran is expected to demand environmental and security fees. Separate reconciliation talks between Gulf states and Iran are expected in Saudi Arabia. Ghalibaf reiterated Wednesday that peace in Lebanon is a fundamental pillar of any final agreement with the US. Violence in Lebanon has ebbed, but Hezbollah accused Israel of a "blatant" truce violation after an Israeli drone strike killed two people in the south.