Washington dispels Gulf countries' fears and Omani-Qatari efforts to manage Hormuz
The United States has publicly pledged not to sacrifice the security of its historic allies in the Gulf in favor of the success of the diplomatic agreement with Iran.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed on Wednesday, during a diplomatic tour that included the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain, that Washington will not take any action that would undermine the security of its regional partners during the ongoing negotiations with Tehran, stressing that his country stands "completely" by their side to dispel fears that the proposed agreement could be overly lenient, especially after the recent missile and drone attacks that targeted the region.
Rubio said from Kuwait that Washington would engage Gulf partners in talks on every decision taken related to these negotiations aimed at reaching a lasting settlement to the war in the Middle East.
Rubio had previously met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, where he reiterated Washington's commitment to ensuring the UAE's security, before meeting with Kuwaiti leaders and traveling to Bahrain for a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council scheduled for Thursday to discuss common regional priorities.
The move comes hours before the start of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting in Manama to discuss common security priorities, in parallel with a complementary regional movement led by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who arrived in Muscat to prepare for trilateral talks (Gulf-Iraqi-Iranian) on the management of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, amid indications of an upcoming summit in Riyadh to repair Gulf-Iranian relations.
Regional Moves and a Summit Expected in Riyadh
Riyadh is expected to soon host a summit aimed at repairing relations between Iran and its Gulf neighbors, and possibly other regional actors, according to an informed diplomatic source.
This step comes in parallel with the intensive diplomatic movement, as Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani arrived in Muscat to prepare for trilateral talks involving the Gulf states, Iraq and Iran on the management of the Strait of Hormuz, coinciding with the announcement by Oman and Tehran of working on an agreement to manage future navigation in the vital corridor.
Details of the Agreement and MoU
The diplomatic tour follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran last week, the first of its kind between the United States and Iranian presidents since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The agreement includes proposals to establish a $300 billion fund, ease some sanctions, allow Iran to sell oil until Aug. 21, as well as a clause to stop the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
After the signing, the two sides began technical talks to elaborate on the exact details of implementation, which are scheduled to resume in Switzerland on June 29 or 30.
Despite the progress, fundamental disagreements remain over Iran's nuclear program and the future of the Strait of Hormuz, prompting IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to assert that inspections at Iran's nuclear sites "will inevitably happen," at a time when Tehran emphasizes the civilian nature of its program and denies that it is seeking an atomic weapon.
The Dilemma of the "Hormuz" Tariffs and Nuclear Inspection Controls
Despite the optimistic atmosphere and Brent crude prices falling below $75 per barrel for the first time since the outbreak of the confrontations, the executive details of the U.S.-Iran memorandum still face substantial obstacles that will be discussed in the next round of technical talks in Switzerland on June 29 or 30.
The main point of contention is Iran's intention to impose transit fees on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which Washington has decisively rejected, as President Donald Trump confirmed that he has received previous Iranian assurances that no tariffs will be imposed, a position that Rubio has proven by referring to the international consensus rejecting those tariffs, at a time when the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has begun planning to evacuate 11,000 stranded seafarers.
On the technical front, Iran's nuclear program remains a hot and controversial item, with Tehran, through its chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, reaffirming the civilian nature of its program and denying the pursuit of nuclear weapons, considering the agreement as a "declaration of defeat for America" in the face of the Iranian people's resistance. and
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi has stressed that precise and surprise inspections at Iran's nuclear sites "will inevitably take place" to ensure full compliance with the terms of the comprehensive de-escalation.
Linking the Lebanese track and continuing military tension
The negotiations were directly reflected on the Lebanese front, where the pressures succeeded in including the clause of stopping the war in Lebanon in the comprehensive memorandum of understanding, after previous attempts by Washington and Tel Aviv to separate the tracks, and Tehran's insistence on linking.
Although Rubio indicated that Iran's support for Hezbollah will be raised at a later stage as the separate negotiating track between Israel and Lebanon continues in Washington, the reality on the ground in southern Lebanon is still witnessing a continuous escalation and a complex military stampede.