Rubio Reassures Gulf Allies on US Commitment to Regional Security amid Iran Talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has pledged full alignment with Gulf partners on regional security amid the ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran.

Rubio’s remarks came during a Gulf tour including the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain, following the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran.

“We’re going to be completely aligned with our partners in the Gulf. That’s why I’ve taken these trips now, and it’s the reason why I’m here,” he told reporters before leaving Kuwait City for Bahrain.

“We want them to know, and we want to reiterate, and begin to talk to them and engage them on conversations about every decision that’s made with regards to this negotiation,” he added.

“We’re not going to do anything ⁠that undermines the security of our allies, our longstanding allies in the region,” Rubio stressed.

SECRETARY RUBIO: "We're not going to do anything that undermines the security of our allies, our longstanding allies, in the region." pic.twitter.com/r5TI8f8OwD

— Department of State (@StateDept) June 24, 2026

Following the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28, Gulf states came under direct Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, including commercial ports, airports, desalination plants, and energy facilities, despite maintaining strict neutrality in the conflict.

The recently signed US-Iran MoU halted the fighting, reopened the Strait of Hormuz and initiated a 60-day negotiation period to discuss disputed issues, with technical talks commencing in Switzerland.

Saudi Arabia welcomed the US-Iran MoU as a significant step toward ending the conflict and opening the pathway toward resolving many of the outstanding disputes, most notably the nuclear issue.

However, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan emphasized that the US-Iran talks need to address the broader regional security concerns to secure a sustainable agreement.

As part of his tour, Rubio will meet officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to discuss shared priorities across the region and address their concerns over the US-Iran deal.