US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urges Gulf allies to back US‑Iran pact and warns against Hormuz tolls

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Abu Dhabi on 23 June 2026 before travelling to Kuwait and Bahrain for meetings with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders. He is promoting the memorandum of understanding signed by President Donald Trump with Iran, which omits any limits on Iranian ballistic missiles, creates a $300 billion post‑war reconstruction fund, and raises concerns in the Gulf about expanded Iranian influence over oil‑shipping routes.

Rubio reiterated that imposing fees on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz would breach international law and stressed that regional stability cannot be achieved while Iran continues to launch rockets. The visits aim to reassure Gulf partners, secure free navigation through the Hormuz corridor, and advance a Qatar‑ and Pakistan‑mediated diplomatic track that seeks a final US‑Iran agreement within 60 days and a direct communications channel to avoid incidents.