{"id":1489,"date":"2026-06-25T23:02:46","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T23:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arabnewsmonitor.com\/2026\/06\/25\/rubio-assures-gulf-allies-us-will-protect-interests-in-iran-peace-talks\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T23:02:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T23:02:46","slug":"rubio-assures-gulf-allies-us-will-protect-interests-in-iran-peace-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/?p=1489","title":{"rendered":"Rubio assures Gulf allies US will protect interests in Iran peace talks"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-tms-ad-status=\"idle\" data-tms-ad-container class=\"o-ad-container o-ad-container--banner-top o-ad-container--with-shimmer o-ad-container--with-background\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__content o-ad-container__content--report-enabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__label m-block-ad__label--report-enabled\">\n                    <span class=\"o-ad-container__label__text\">Advertising<\/span><br \/>\n                                            <button title=\"Report this ad\" class=\"o-ad-container__content__report-link\" data-tms-ad-report><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-ad-sponsoring\" data-tms-ad-type=\"sponsoring\" data-tms-ad-status=\"disabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-sponsoring__wrapper\">\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content t-content--article\" id=\"main-content\">\n<div class=\"t-content__above-sidebar\">\n<h1 class=\"t-content__title a-page-title\">Rubio assures Gulf allies US will protect interests in Iran peace talks<\/h1>\n<div class=\"m-master-tag\">\n<div class=\"a-tag-section\">\n                                    Middle East\n                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"t-content__chapo\">\n                                        Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Bahrain on Thursday to assure Gulf allies that Washington would protect their interests as it pursues a final settlement with Iran. Earlier, President Donald Trump said talks were progressing well, while requesting nearly $88 billion in supplemental funding for the Pentagon after Congress passed a resolution urging an end to hostilities.                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__with-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"t-content__beside-sidebar\" data-article-content>\n<div class=\"t-content__metadata\">\n<div class=\"t-content__dates\">\n<p class=\"m-pub-dates\"><span class=\"m-pub-dates__date\">Issued on: <time datetime=\"2026-06-24T22:36:56+00:00\">25\/06\/2026 &#8211; 00:36<\/time><\/span><span class=\"m-pub-dates__date\">Modified: <time datetime=\"2026-06-25T06:07:22+00:00\">25\/06\/2026 &#8211; 08:07<\/time><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"a-reading-time\">\n    <span class=\"a-reading-time__icon\" title=\"Reading time\"><\/p>\n<p>    <\/span><br \/>\n    4 min    <span class=\"u-sr-only\">Reading time<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a-share-button\" data-root-share>\n<p>                            <span class=\"a-master-button__label\">Share<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__authors\">\n<div class=\"m-from-author\">\n                    <span class=\"m-from-author__by-label\"><br \/>\n                By:<br \/>\n            <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-author\">\n<div class=\"m-author__name\">\n                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/author\/france-24\/\" title=\"FRANCE 24\" class=\"m-author__name__title\"><br \/>\n                                FRANCE 24<br \/>\n                            <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__main-media\">\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--16x9 m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/7519755c-6ffb-11f1-b716-005056a97e36\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/25e5fcde33bfc54928fd758536f285ba7d54cf87.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/7519755c-6ffb-11f1-b716-005056a97e36\/w:388\/p:16x9\/25e5fcde33bfc54928fd758536f285ba7d54cf87.jpg 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/7519755c-6ffb-11f1-b716-005056a97e36\/w:720\/p:16x9\/25e5fcde33bfc54928fd758536f285ba7d54cf87.jpg 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/7519755c-6ffb-11f1-b716-005056a97e36\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/25e5fcde33bfc54928fd758536f285ba7d54cf87.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1076px) 100vw, 1012px\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" alt=\"US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, after their meeting in Kuwait on June 24, 2026.\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, after their meeting in Kuwait on June 24, 2026        \u00a9 Eric Lee, AFP    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__body u-clearfix\">\n<p>Secretary of State <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Marco Rubio<\/a> was in Bahrain on Thursday where he sought to reassure Gulf allies of the United States that Washington would protect their interests as it seeks to hammer out a final settlement of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/middle-east\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Middle East<\/a> war in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/talks\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">talks<\/a> with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/iran\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Donald Trump<\/a> met with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/nato\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">NATO<\/a> chief <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/mark-rutte\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Mark Rutte<\/a> at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/white-house\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">White House<\/a> on Wednesday, and said the United States was &#8220;doing great&#8221; in negotiations with Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Trump also asked Congress on Wednesday for nearly $88 billion in supplemental funding, most of it for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/pentagon\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Pentagon<\/a> to cover the cost of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/iran-conflict\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Iran war<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The proposal landed a day after Congress passed a largely symbolic resolution calling on Trump to end US hostilities with Iran unless lawmakers explicitly authorise <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/military\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">military<\/a> action.<\/p>\n<p class=\"a-read-more\"><span class=\"a-read-more__label\">Read more<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/middle-east\/20260624-us-military-says-senior-islamic-state-group-leader-killed-syria-air-strike\" target=\"_self\" class=\"a-read-more__link\">US military says senior Islamic State group leader killed in Syria air strike<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Rubio is on a regional tour to reassure the Gulf states, which were targeted by Tehran&#8217;s missiles and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/drones\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">drones<\/a> during the conflict and saw their crucial oil and gas shipments effectively cut off by an Iranian blockade of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/strait-of-hormuz\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Tehran has emerged emboldened from the war, vowing not to relinquish control of the vital waterway and going so far as to call its initial deal with Washington to stop the fighting &#8220;a declaration of America&#8217;s defeat.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Iran slammed NATO on Thursday after Rutte noted its support for the United States, with foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei accusing the transatlantic bloc of &#8220;complicity&#8221; in the &#8220;unlawful war&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>During a visit to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/kuwait\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Kuwait<\/a> City, Rubio said Washington would be on the same page as Gulf states as it wrangles with Iran over a permanent settlement to the conflict.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re going to be completely aligned with our partners in the Gulf,&#8221; he said, adding that the United States would &#8220;engage them on conversations about every decision that&#8217;s made with regards to this negotiation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Rubio is due to attend a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/bahrain\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Bahrain<\/a> on Thursday after sitting down with the leaders of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/kuwait\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Kuwait<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/united-arab-emirates\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">United Arab Emirates<\/a> on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>The initial US-Iran deal, which sets out a 60-day negotiating process aimed at reaching a long-term agreement, failed to address Gulf nations&#8217; long-standing concerns about Iran&#8217;s missile program and regional proxies.<\/p>\n<p>But Rubio insisted Washington was &#8220;not going to do anything that undermines the security of our allies.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"m-em-video\">\n<div class=\"o-video-player o-video-player--16x9\" data-media-video-wbmz561265-f24-en-20260625 data-show-hidden-video-player=\"WBMZ561265-F24-EN-20260625\" data-wrapper-video-player data-youtube-script>\n<div class=\"o-em-consent \">\n<div class=\"o-em-consent__content\">\n<p class=\"o-em-consent__content__text\">To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.<\/p>\n<p>        <button class=\"a-master-button a-master-button--dark\" data-action=\"accept\"><br \/>\n            Accept<\/p>\n<p>        <\/button><br \/>\n        <button class=\"a-link\" data-action=\"manage\">Manage my choices                <\/p>\n<p><\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"o-em-adblock\" data-adblock-content>\n<div class=\"o-em-adblock__content\">\n<p class=\"o-em-adblock__content__text\">One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site.<\/p>\n<p>            <button class=\"a-master-button a-master-button--dark\" data-action=\"reload\">Try again<\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--16x9 m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img decoding=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/4cb9544c-6e52-11f1-8ed7-005056bf30b7\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/EN-20260622-160047-160941-CS.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/4cb9544c-6e52-11f1-8ed7-005056bf30b7\/w:388\/p:16x9\/EN-20260622-160047-160941-CS.jpg 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/4cb9544c-6e52-11f1-8ed7-005056bf30b7\/w:720\/p:16x9\/EN-20260622-160047-160941-CS.jpg 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/4cb9544c-6e52-11f1-8ed7-005056bf30b7\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/EN-20260622-160047-160941-CS.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 639px) calc(100vw - 32px), (max-width: 1076px) calc(100vw - 44px), 850px\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" alt=\"\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n    Cover image:                    \u00a9 France 24    <\/figcaption><div class=\"m-item-image__overlay-wrapper\">\n                <button class=\"m-main-media-btn\" aria-label=\"Play the video\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"m-main-media-btn__picto\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"a-circle-loader\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<time class=\"a-media-time\">08:53<\/time>                <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-hidden-video-player=\"WBMZ561265-F24-EN-20260625\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>At odds on Hormuz<\/h2>\n<p>Tehran, however, has already portrayed the deal as a victory.<\/p>\n<p>Its top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Wednesday that the agreement, reached with the help of Pakistani mediation, was &#8220;the result of the resistance and authority of the brave Iranian nation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That is why the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/islamabad\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Islamabad<\/a> Memorandum of Understanding became a declaration of America&#8217;s defeat,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Rubio and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/pakistan\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Pakistan<\/a> said technical talks between the United States and Iran were expected to resume in the coming days following a first round in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/switzerland\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Switzerland<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Rubio also insisted on Wednesday that the United States was committed to preserving the pre-war status quo of toll-free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a substantial proportion of global oil and gas shipments.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I know of no country on the planet that supports tolling or fees for the use of the strait,&#8221; he said in Kuwait.<\/p>\n<p>In Washington, Trump said imposing any fees on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/shipping\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">shipping<\/a> would be &#8220;unacceptable.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Iran, however, has repeatedly said it intends to retain control over the strait, along with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/oman\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Oman<\/a>, and charge what it calls maritime service fees for crossing it.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/qatar\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Qatar<\/a>&#8216;s prime minister, meanwhile, travelled to Oman to initiate talks on the strait between the Gulf states, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/iraq\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Iraq<\/a> and Iran, a diplomat told AFP.<\/p>\n<p>The diplomat said Gulf countries would push for no-charge freedom of navigation, while Iran was expected to ask for an environmental and security service fee.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, another diplomat said separate talks on reconciliation between Gulf countries and Iran were expected to be held in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/saudi-arabia\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Saudi Arabia<\/a>, though they did not specify a date.<\/p>\n<p class=\"a-read-more\"><span class=\"a-read-more__label\">Read more<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/jd-vance-put-lipstick-on-a-pig-iranians-have-the-upper-hand-in-the-peace-negotiations\" target=\"_self\" class=\"a-read-more__link\">&#8216;JD Vance put lipstick on a pig: Iranians have the upper hand &#8216; in peace negotiations<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>&#8216;Like the phoenix&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>Iran&#8217;s Ghalibaf reiterated Wednesday that peace in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/lebanon\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Lebanon<\/a>, which was drawn into the war when Tehran-backed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/hezbollah\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Hezbollah<\/a> launched attacks on Israel, was a fundamental pillar of reaching a definitive agreement with the United States.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;For us, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/ceasefire\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">ceasefire<\/a> in Lebanon has been and is as important as the ceasefire in Iran,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>The violence in Lebanon has ebbed in recent days but Hezbollah accused Israel of a &#8220;blatant&#8221; truce violation on Wednesday after an Israeli drone strike on a vehicle killed two people in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n<p>The Israeli military said it targeted &#8220;two armed Hezbollah terrorists&#8221; and vowed to &#8220;continue to operate to remove immediate threats.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Under US pressure, Lebanese officials began direct talks in April with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/israel\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Israel<\/a> in Washington, with Lebanese authorities seeking to separate the negotiations from the US-Iran deal.<\/p>\n<p>In the beachside Lebanese city of Tyre, 40-year-old Hussein Hassan was welcoming customers to his barbershop, despite one of its walls being cracked and its glass facade blown away in Israeli strikes.<\/p>\n<p>Tyre residents &#8220;love life and work. We shake off the dust and rise up again like the phoenix,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p><em>(FRANCE 24 with AFP)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"o-sidebar__aside\">\n<div data-tms-ad-status=\"idle\" data-tms-ad-container class=\"o-ad-container o-ad-container--box o-ad-container--with-shimmer\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__content o-ad-container__content--report-enabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__label m-block-ad__label--report-enabled\">\n                    <span class=\"o-ad-container__label__text\">Advertising<\/span><br \/>\n                                            <button title=\"Report this ad\" class=\"o-ad-container__content__report-link\" data-tms-ad-report><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__tags t-content__below-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"m-section-title m-section-title--small\">Keywords for this article<\/div>\n<ul class=\"m-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/iran-conflict\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Iran war\">    Iran war<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Marco Rubio\">    Marco Rubio<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/middle-east\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Middle East\">    Middle East<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/us-military\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"US military\">    US military<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Advertising Rubio assures Gulf allies US will protect interests in Iran peace talks Middle East&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1490,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1489"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1489\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}