Rubio Dispatched To Middle East Amid Ongoing Iran Talks

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be traveling to the Middle East from June 23 to June 25 while Vice President JD Vance leads talks with Iran over the war.

Rubio is set to visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait and Bahrain, State Department spokesman Thomas Pigott said in a statement Monday. He will also speak with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Bahrain to address common priorities in the area. Vance began talks with Iran on ending the war and intermediaries June 21 after President Donald Trump signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) June 17.

Pigott said, “The Secretary will discuss a range of priorities including the memorandum of understanding with Iran, efforts to secure full and free safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and the importance of safety in the region.”

The GCC has supported U.S. efforts to end the war with Iran, but they also have concerns over some of the aspects of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) the U.S. made with Iran, Reuters reported. The current MOU includes a $300 billion reconstruction fund to Tehran, which Gulf State leaders worry may allow Iran to rebuild the military capacity the U.S. destroyed. They are also reportedly concerned about potential future dangers from Iranian missiles and drones.

NOW: Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain this week as the Trump administration seeks Gulf support for a preliminary Iran agreement. He is also set to meet with the Gulf Cooperation Council, bringing together key U.S. partners across the region. pic.twitter.com/k4e9G4A3Yq

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) June 22, 2026

The MOU between the U.S. and Iran calls for “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.” However, U.S. officials said Monday that the agreement does not necessitate Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, according to The Guardian. Lebanon’s National News Agency said Israel struck multiple targets June 20, three days after Iran and the U.S. signed the MOU, although Israel claimed they were retaliating against an attack from Hezbollah, Reuters reported.

Pigott did not name which specific leaders Rubio will be meeting with or which days he is visiting the individual countries. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman are all members of the GCC.

The MOU gives the U.S. and Tehran a 60-day window to reach a more in-depth agreement.

The U.S. began launching strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, prompting the Islamic Republic to effectively halt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Editor’s note: Article updated with additional information. This is a developing story and will be updated.

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Evelyn Elliott

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