Rubio seeks to calm Gulf allies after Iran deal
The US secretary of state told GCC officials in Bahrain that Washington would put Gulf security at the center of its Iran policy.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has used talks in the Gulf to reassure regional allies after an agreement to end the US-Israel war on Iran, Al Jazeera reported. The message matters because Gulf states are pressing for more influence over security decisions that affect their territory and nearby waterways.
Rubio met officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council in Manama, Bahrain, where he said Washington wants a lasting agreement with Tehran, according to Al Jazeera. He also told GCC states that the deal with Iran would protect their security.
Al Jazeera reported that Rubio set limits on the US position, saying Washington would not accept any arrangement that left Iran with a nuclear weapon. He also said Iran should not charge ships for crossing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for Gulf maritime traffic.
Gulf states seek a larger role
The talks followed what Al Jazeera described as unprecedented Iranian attacks on Gulf states during the war. That backdrop has sharpened concern among GCC members about whether decisions involving Iran, the Strait of Hormuz and regional security will include their governments.
The GCC is pushing for a larger say in matters close to home, including security policy and rules affecting the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported. Rubio’s visit was aimed at easing those concerns and showing that Washington still considers Gulf security a priority.
The Strait of Hormuz issue has become part of the wider debate over the Iran agreement. Al Jazeera reported that Rubio said Gulf countries do not support tolls on ships passing through the strait, and that he argued Iran should not impose such charges.
Rubio’s comments came as Washington tries to defend the Iran deal to regional partners that were directly affected by the conflict, according to Al Jazeera. The secretary of state’s position joined two goals: pursuing a permanent arrangement with Tehran while assuring Gulf allies that US commitments in the region remain in place.
Debate over Washington’s assurances
Al Jazeera examined the visit on a programme hosted by James Bays. The guests were Abdulla Banndar Al-Etaibi, an assistant professor of international relations at Qatar University; Gordon Gray, a former US ambassador and deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs; and Sina Toossi, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy focused on US-Iran relations.
The discussion centered on whether Rubio’s trip had reassured US partners in the Gulf, according to Al Jazeera. The report framed the central issue as whether Washington can reduce Gulf states’ concerns while giving them a stronger voice in decisions over Iran and regional security.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.