US Secretary of State Rubio Begins Gulf Tour Amid Iran Deal Concerns

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to begin a three‑day tour of the Gulf Cooperation Council states. He will meet UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and later travel to Kuwait and Bahrain to discuss the regional reaction to the recently signed U.S.–Iran nuclear understanding.

Rubio stressed that the agreement will not lead to tolls or fees on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, reiterating that the waterway remains an international navigation route. Gulf leaders expressed worries that the deal does not curb Iran’s ballistic‑missile program and that a proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund could bolster Tehran’s influence and military capabilities in the region. The visits aim to reassure the Gulf monarchies that the U.S. remains committed to their security while seeking to de‑escalate tensions linked to the new accord.