Rubio to visit Gulf states for Iran MoU and Hormuz talks
The US secretary of state is scheduled to visit the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain as Washington presses for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to travel to three Gulf countries this week for talks on the Iran memorandum of understanding and the Strait of Hormuz, the US State Department said Monday. The trip comes as Washington and Tehran are in a 60-day negotiating period under an agreement that suspended hostilities between the two countries, according to Al Jazeera.
Rubio is scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain from June 23 to 25, according to the State Department. The department said the meetings will cover regional priorities tied to Iran, maritime transit and stability in the Gulf.
“The Secretary will discuss a range of regional priorities, including the memorandum of understanding with Iran, efforts to secure full and free safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and the importance of peace and stability in the region,” the State Department said.
Gulf security and the Hormuz corridor
The Strait of Hormuz remains a central issue because it is a key route for Middle East oil and gas shipments, Al Jazeera reported. Traffic through the waterway fell sharply during the war and has not returned to pre-war levels, though it has risen since the Iran MoU was signed.
Data and analytics firm Kpler said 71 vessels moved through the strait over the weekend. Before the US and Israel began their war against Iran in late February, the daily average ranged from 100 to 131 vessels, according to Kpler.
The MoU says Iran may not impose transit fees during the 60-day negotiation period, Al Jazeera reported. The State Department’s reference to “full and free safe transit” signaled that access to the waterway will be a major focus of Rubio’s talks.
Iranian officials have indicated that Tehran plans to charge transit fees after the 60-day period ends, according to Al Jazeera. That position has kept attention on how shipping through the strait will be handled once the current talks expire.
Rubio to meet Gulf Cooperation Council in Bahrain
In Bahrain, Rubio will also meet with the Gulf Cooperation Council, the State Department said. The GCC is made up of six Gulf countries and includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman, along with the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain.
The Iran MoU has been broadly welcomed in the Middle East, according to Al Jazeera, but the war put pressure on Iran’s relations with Gulf neighbors that host US military bases. Iranian attacks on those countries, including strikes on civilian infrastructure, raised questions about US security partnerships in the region, Al Jazeera reported.
The State Department said Rubio’s meetings will address “shared priorities across the region.” It did not announce additional stops beyond the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.