Rubio says proposed US-Iran deal will not affect Gulf allies’ security

MANAMA – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assured Gulf nations that any future agreement between Washington and Tehran would not come at the expense of the security or stability of US allies in the region. Addressing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-US Joint Ministerial Meeting in Bahrain, Rubio said the United States remained committed to pursuing a durable and verifiable agreement with Iran while safeguarding the interests of its regional partners. “We are open to peace, but it must be a lasting and credible peace that does not compromise our security, prosperity, or that of our allies in the Gulf,” he said. Rubio also rejected suggestions that Iran could impose charges on vessels transiting the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, arguing that international waterways must remain open to global navigation. He said allowing any country to levy fees for passage through an international shipping route could create a dangerous precedent and disrupt maritime trade worldwide. The US secretary of state described the debate over whether such charges should be called tolls or fees as largely a matter of terminology, stressing that Washington would not accept restrictions on navigation through the waterway. Rubio reiterated that the United States sought an agreement with Iran that is effective, enforceable and subject to verification. He added that Washington remained firm in its position that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons. According to Rubio, the US remains willing to engage diplomatically with Tehran provided that any agreement meets these conditions and contributes to long-term regional stability. Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani welcomed Oman’s initiative to establish a maritime corridor aimed at ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The remarks came during discussions among GCC member states and US officials focused on regional security, maritime navigatio