Key Takeaways:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Gulf allies the US will share every step of nuclear negotiations with Iran, seeking to ease concerns that a deal could come at their expense.
Rubio on Wednesday pledged a formal communication mechanism to keep the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council briefed on all US-Iran nuclear talks, seeking to reassure allies skeptical that any agreement will safeguard their security.
"We want the views of all these countries to be reflected," Rubio said after meeting GCC foreign ministers in Manama, Bahrain. "We will not be making any decisions or commitments that in any way undermines the prosperity, stability or security of our Gulf partners."
The GCC — comprising Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates — shared "very concrete concerns and ideas" during the talks, Rubio said. He dismissed Iran's "maximalist rhetoric" over the Strait of Hormuz, saying the US is focused on whether ships are moving, not on Iranian press conferences. President Donald Trump last week lifted the US naval blockade of Iran and launched a 60-day negotiating period, keeping major military forces in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz handles about 21 percent of global oil trade, giving Gulf states an outsized stake in any US-Iran accord. A successful deal could unlock Iranian oil exports and pressure crude prices lower, while a breakdown risks reimposing the blockade and reigniting military conflict that previously sent Brent above $100 a barrel.
Rubio's tour comes as Gulf capitals harbor deep skepticism about Tehran's intentions. During a bilateral meeting with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Rubio called Iran's attacks on Bahrain during the war "unacceptable" and declared there will be no regional stability "as long as there are non-state actors operating within the boundaries and borders of sovereign countries and being funded by Iran."
He cited Hezbollah in Lebanon, militias in Iraq, Hamas and the Houthis as examples of proxies that undermine sovereignty — a list that resonates acutely with Gulf monarchies that have faced Iranian-backed attacks.
Iran's Proxies and the Lebanon Breakthrough
In a parallel diplomatic track, Rubio said Lebanon's government is speaking directly with Israel "for the first time in 30 years" during three days of talks in Washington. The negotiations aim to produce a "commitment of intent" between the two countries, with Rubio emphasizing that Lebanon's military — not Hezbollah — must control Lebanese territory. "Hezbollah is not the government of Lebanon," he said.
The administration secured a political win in Washington late Wednesday when the Senate defeated a Democratic-led war powers resolution on Iran, 50-47. The vote was a reversal from a similar measure that passed the day before, after Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., flipped following White House meetings. Trump argued the earlier resolution had hurt his negotiating position.
Rubio also ruled out any tolling system for the Strait of Hormuz, saying there is "zero support among the Gulf countries for any sort of toll or fees or anything that charges for the use of international waters." Trump had warned Iran against imposing costs on ships transiting the waterway, calling such a move a potential deal-breaker.
The last time the US and Iran reached a nuclear framework — the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — Gulf states were largely sidelined, and oil markets initially sold off on expectations of Iranian supply returning. Brent crude fell about 5 percent in the week after the JCPOA was announced. This time, Rubio's pledge of continuous consultation signals Washington has learned that Gulf allies demand a seat at the table.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
