After three days in the Gulf, Rubio secured private assurances but left regional ministers with lingering doubts about reconstruction funds and Hormuz safeguards.

In Manama on June 25, 2026, the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Gulf allies that any deal with Iran would take their interests into account as he wrapped up a three-day trip to the Middle East to present a preliminary framework agreement to regional partners who are skeptical.

During a meeting of regional foreign ministers and officials in Bahrain, Rubio stressed that Washington is seeking a durable peace with Iran that does not undermine the security and prosperity of its allies in the energy-rich region, which fears that the agreement may be too lenient toward Iran after its actions in the war.

Iran has fought against two formidable armies and effectively gained control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which significantly disrupted oil supplies and affected global energy markets.

Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdulatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, who chaired the gathering, welcomed Oman’s announcement of a safe-passage corridor for ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

The three-day trip by Rubio to the region was the first high-level diplomatic mission since last week’s framework agreement between the United States and Iran on ending the conflict that began February 28 with strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran.

He acknowledged the mission’s sensitivity and sought the backing of leaders of the GCC countries who fear that excessive concessions could bolster Tehran’s influence and shift the balance of power and oil flows.

In earlier stops in the UAE and Kuwait, Rubio sought to assure officials that the proposed deal is not too favorable to Iran.

We will not do anything that undermines the security of our allies, our long-standing allies in the region.

– Marco Rubio

Diverse Voices on the Terms of the Agreement

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Iran “agreed to nuclear inspections” with no restrictions, while Tehran disputed such a concession during negotiations, raising questions about the realism and viability of the interim agreement.

Both sides, after completing the first round of talks in Switzerland, also expressed divergent views on financial incentives for Iran, on control over the Strait of Hormuz, and on Israel’s parallel war in Lebanon.

All six Gulf Cooperation Council countries – the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait – are strategic US allies and provided a certain level of logistical support during the conflict, and all have been hit by strikes from Iran. Together they form the foundations of the American security architecture in the region, and any changes in their relations with the United States could affect the US military posture in the Middle East.

The proposed framework agreement between the United States and Iran does not set limits on Iran’s missile systems, envisions a reconstruction fund of about $300 billion, and provisions that could expand Tehran’s influence and control over key sea routes for oil supply.

Rubio stressed that during this trip he did not plan to ask regional partners to join the reconstruction fund, even though the framework agreement between the United States and Iran provides for some regional responsibility.

Some regional allies privately express disappointment that the interim agreement could open a path to normalizing relations between the United States and Iran, given that the region largely adheres to a Sunni coalition that views Iran as a major adversary.

As the talks continue, the main focus remains on preserving stability and coordinating between the United States and regional partners to respond to security and energy challenges in the region.