US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Gulf allies on Thursday that any deal with Iran would take their interests into account, as he wrapped up a Middle East trip aimed at selling the Trump administration’s preliminary accord to sceptical regional partners. Speaking at a press conference in Riyadh, Rubio emphasized that the United States remains committed to the security of its Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) partners.
Rubio's assurances come amid concerns from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other Gulf states that a US-Iran agreement could embolden Tehran or undermine regional stability. The Trump administration has been negotiating a preliminary accord with Iran, though details remain sparse. Rubio did not provide a timeline for a final deal but stressed that Gulf security is a priority.
The trip included stops in Israel and Saudi Arabia, where Rubio met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other GCC officials. No specific commitments or changes to US policy were announced, but Rubio reiterated that any agreement would include provisions to address Gulf states' concerns about Iran's ballistic missile program and regional proxy activities.
