Overview
- Mr. Rubio met Gulf foreign ministers in Manama on Thursday to press for support for the preliminary U.S.-Iran memorandum that paused fighting and opened a 60-day technical phase.
- He told allies the United States will protect their security and said he would not ask Gulf states to fund any reconstruction during his trip.
- Washington and Tehran have issued conflicting accounts about inspection commitments, with U.S. claims of extended inspections rejected by Iranian officials and unresolved detail on timing and scope.
- Reporting on the draft deal has raised Gulf concerns by noting no limits on Iran’s ballistic missiles and a reported $300 billion reconstruction fund that could shift regional influence and financial burdens.
- Gulf states worry the pact could affect control and safety of the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. military ties in the region, leaving the truce fragile and its implementation dependent on technical negotiations and allied buy-in.