US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to travel to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain this week for talks focused on the Iran memorandum of understanding and wider regional security concerns, according to the US State Department.
The visit comes as Washington seeks to brief and consult Gulf allies on the preliminary agreement reached with Tehran, amid growing scrutiny over its potential implications for regional stability.
While in Bahrain, Rubio is expected to meet representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which brings together six Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman, to discuss shared security priorities.
US officials say the discussions will cover the terms of the Iran deal, including provisions related to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global energy supplies.
Some regional officials have reportedly expressed reservations over elements of the agreement, including proposed reconstruction funding for Iran and concerns that the deal does not adequately address ballistic missile activity in the region.
The Gulf states host several US military bases that form a key part of Washington’s defence posture in the Middle East, making their support a central element of US regional strategy.
The trip follows renewed diplomatic activity around Iran, including US-led negotiations aimed at shaping a broader and more comprehensive agreement in the coming weeks.
