Marco Rubio Reassures UAE Over US-Iran Deal
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to the Emirates’ security as Gulf countries assess the impact of the recent US-Iran agreement.
Rubio UAE Visit Focuses On Security
Rubio’s visit to Abu Dhabi came during his wider Gulf tour, the first by a senior US official to the region since Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum aimed at ending recent hostilities.
During the meeting, Rubio discussed the US-Iran deal with the UAE leadership and sought to reassure Gulf allies that Washington would continue to support their security concerns. The UAE and other Gulf countries have been closely watching the agreement because several regional issues remain unresolved.
US Iran Deal Raises Gulf Concerns
The US-Iran understanding has helped reduce immediate tensions, but Gulf states remain concerned about Iran’s missile programme, armed proxies and future military activity in the region.
Rubio thanked the UAE for its role during the recent conflict and praised its resilience after Iranian attacks. Washington has also tried to underline that the agreement with Tehran does not weaken its security commitments to Gulf partners.
Strait Of Hormuz Tolls Rejected
Rubio also said the United States would not accept any attempt to impose tolls or fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. He described the route as an international waterway and said international law does not allow any country to charge for passage.
His remarks came after Iran and Oman said they were studying possible costs linked to managing ship movement through the strategic waterway. Rubio later travelled to Kuwait and is expected to attend a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Bahrain, where the Iran deal and regional security are likely to remain major issues.
