US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning to visit the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain this week – this will be his first official visit to the Persian Gulf since the start of the war in Iran.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed that Rubio will discuss “regional priorities, including the memorandum of understanding with Iran, efforts to ensure full, free and safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and the importance of peace and stability in the region”.
The trip comes just a few days after Washington and Tehran signed a framework agreement aimed at establishing peace in the region.
The diplomatic mission, designed to convince regional allies of the Trump administration’s strategic approach towards Tehran, will also aim to strengthen security protocols around the volatile Strait of Hormuz.
The tour will take place from 23 to 25 June, at a critical juncture for US foreign policy – following intensive talks in Switzerland over the weekend. Earlier, Vice-President J.D. Vance stated that the talks had laid “a good foundation for a successful final deal” to end the Middle East conflict.
This high-stakes visit underscores the Trump administration’s broader efforts to turn previous diplomatic breakthroughs into reliable security guarantees for its partners in the Persian Gulf, many of whom remain deeply sceptical about Tehran’s long-term compliance.
The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on 17 June. It contains 14 points. In particular, a ceasefire on all fronts comes into force immediately, as does the unrestricted opening of the Strait of Hormuz for the next 60 days and the gradual lifting of the naval blockade of Iran.