Rubio to visit UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain for talks on Iran MoU and Strait of Hormuz

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is due to travel to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain from 23 to 25 June for talks focused on regional security, according to a statement from the US State Department. The visit comes as Washington and Tehran continue discussions linked to a memorandum of understanding that suspended hostilities between the two countries. It also comes amid continuing concern over safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil and gas from the Middle East.

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The State Department said Rubio will discuss the memorandum of understanding with Iran, efforts to secure full and free safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and what it described as the importance of peace and stability in the region. In Bahrain, he is also scheduled to meet the Gulf Cooperation Council to discuss shared regional priorities. The council is made up of six Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman.

The announcement follows a period of strained relations between Iran and Gulf neighbours that host US military bases. The supporting material says Iranian attacks during the war included strikes on civilian infrastructure, adding to concern about the security environment in the region. It also notes that transit through the Strait of Hormuz remained below pre-war levels, although traffic has increased since the memorandum was signed.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically important waterways because it carries a large share of the region's oil and gas exports. Any disruption there can affect energy markets well beyond the Gulf. The talks are therefore likely to be watched closely by governments and shipping interests that depend on predictable access through the waterway.

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The timing of the trip suggests the United States is trying to reinforce diplomacy with Gulf partners while negotiations with Iran continue. The memorandum of understanding reportedly includes a 60-day negotiation period during which Iran may not charge transit fees. Iranian officials have suggested they plan to introduce transit fees after that period ends, which adds uncertainty to the talks.

What remains unclear is whether the meetings in the Gulf will produce any new commitments on transit, fees or wider regional security arrangements. It is also not yet known whether the discussions will lead to any public statement from the Gulf Cooperation Council or from Iranian officials. The outcome of the visit will be measured by whether it helps preserve the current pause in hostilities and keeps shipping through the strait moving freely.

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