MANAMA: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that Washington would not accept a nuclear agreement with Iran that compromises the security of its Gulf allies, as negotiations between the two countries continue following a preliminary deal to end the recent conflict.
Speaking at a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting in Bahrain, Rubio said the United States sought a diplomatic agreement with Tehran but would not support any arrangement that undermines the security, stability or prosperity of its regional partners.
“While we want a deal, we don’t want a deal at any price,” Rubio said, adding that Gulf states’ security remained a key consideration in ongoing negotiations.
Rubio also reaffirmed the US position that the Strait of Hormuz must remain an international waterway free of transit fees, rejecting Iranian proposals to introduce maritime service charges after the recent conflict.
“International waterways do not belong to any nation state,” he said.
Iran imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz during the war before agreeing to a preliminary ceasefire with the United States. Tehran has since proposed introducing maritime service fees, while its Revolutionary Guards warned against unauthorised crossings.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi told the GCC meeting that current plans for the strait do not include transit fees, despite Muscat and Tehran confirming they were studying charges for maritime services. Oman has also announced a temporary shipping corridor near its coastline coordinated with the International Maritime Organisation.
The preliminary memorandum signed by Washington and Tehran allows commercial vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without charge for 60 days. Arrangements beyond that period remain under discussion.
Meanwhile, Iran described the initial agreement with Washington as “a declaration of America’s defeat” and vowed not to relinquish control over the strategic waterway.
US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were progressing well following talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House. He also requested nearly $88 billion in supplemental funding, largely to cover costs associated with the conflict.
Iran criticised NATO after Rutte reaffirmed the alliance’s support for the United States, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei accusing the alliance of complicity in an “unlawful war.”
Rubio and mediator Pakistan said technical talks between Washington and Tehran are expected to resume in the coming days following an initial round of negotiations in Switzerland. A diplomatic source also said separate discussions aimed at improving relations between Iran and Gulf states are expected to take place in Saudi Arabia, although no date has been announced.