UAE, Kuwait assured of US commitment to Gulf states’ security

ABU DHABI/ KUWAIT CITY: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the US-Iran deal with UAE and Kuwaiti leaders on Wednesday, renewing Washington’s commitment to the Gulf states’ security as he embarked on a tour of the region.

His trip is the first by a senior US official to the Middle East since the Iran agreement was signed last week.

Rubio is seeking to reassure close US allies about the memorandum of understanding signed with Tehran last week, which fails to address some of the Gulf states’ long-standing concerns about its missile programme. Iran contends that it targeted US bases and assets in Gulf countries and has not accepted responsibility for all attacks.

The secretary of state arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday evening and held closed-door talks with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan the following day, then set off for Kuwait. After that, he will travel on to Bahrain, where he will attend a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting on Thursday.

Marco Rubio says no country will be allowed to impose tolls on Strait of Hormuz

“They [Marco Rubio and the UAE president] discussed President Trump’s memorandum of understanding with Iran, efforts to secure full and safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and the importance of peace and stability in the region,” the US diplomat’s spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.

Rubio also “thanked the UAE for their leadership and unparalleled support, praised their courage and resilience in the face of Iran’s attacks, and reaffirmed the US commitment to the security of the Emirates”, he added. He insisted that no country would be allowed to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz after Oman and Iran, which border the waterway, said they were considering charging “costs” for ships navigating the key conduit for Gulf oil and gas.

“It’s an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That’s existing international law,” he said upon arrival in the UAE capital.

Rubio held a working lunch with the UAE president and other senior figures, including Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Asked on arrival if he planned to address allies’ disquiet with the accord, the US top diplomat told reporters: “That most certainly will come up in these discussions.”

He said they would also discuss issues not covered by the memorandum of understanding. America’s top diplomat has been largely absent from Iran-related discussions in recent weeks, with Vice President JD Vance instead leading a round of talks with Iranian counterparts over the weekend in Switzerland.

Marco Rubio’s remarks during his swing through the region will be closely scrutinised to see how the man once known as a hawkish critic of Iran frames a deal that many congressional Republicans argue amounts to capitulation.

Delicate mission

Rubio’s mission is delicate: While he needs to defend a preliminary accord that Trump firmly supports, he also has to credibly address the concerns of his Gulf counterparts, who are more circumspect about the deal.

The US and Iran signed a 14-point MoU last week, setting out broad agreements in principle to end the war. A central issue in talks is what will happen to Iran’s 60 per cent enriched uranium, a short step from the roughly 90pc of weapons grade. Washington’s regional allies are especially concerned that Iran could use the proposed $300bn reconstruction fund to rebuild its military.

The accord also does not address Tehran’s ballistic missile capacity, a concern for Gulf states, all of which were struck by Iranian missiles and drones in the war.

Tehran has noted that the Gulf states made various logistical accommodations for US-Israel war effort, while hosting US military bases that were central to the conflict.

Talks in Kuwait

The secretary of state held talks with Kuwaiti Emir Mishal Al Ahmad, reiterating Washington’s pledge to the region’s security.

Before meeting the emir, Marco Rubio attended a flag-raising ceremony at the US embassy marking the resumption of operations following an Iranian strike. “Kuwait is an indispensable partner for regional security and stability,” Rubio said in a tweet afterwards, adding Washington “looks forward to strengthening our partnership”.

After Kuwait, Rubio will travel to Bahrain, where he will attend a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting on Thursday. The energy-rich Gulf, home to several American military bases, bore the brunt of Iran’s attacks in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes.

The UAE was targeted by more than 2,800 missiles and drones, more than any other country in the region, while Kuwait and Bahrain were also badly hit relative to their small size

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2026