US Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states on Thursday that any potential agreement between Washington and Tehran would not undermine Gulf security or the interests of US allies in the region. He emphasized that the Trump administration is open to peace, but not “at any price.”

During a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Bahrain, Rubio said that the alliance between the United States and its Gulf partners has been tested during recent developments and has passed, affirming that the shared goal is to enhance security and stability in the region.

He added that Washington is entering a “new phase” that it hopes will lead to peace and will continue, in cooperation with its partners, to pursue constructive dialogue with Iran to reach a lasting agreement, while stressing that the interests of its Gulf allies will be a fundamental part of any future understandings.

Rubio stressed that the United States would ensure that any agreements reached with Iran would not conflict with the interests of its partners in the region, affirming that President Trump was committed to achieving a peace that would preserve the security and prosperity of both the United States and the Gulf states.

Regarding maritime navigation, Rubio reiterated his country’s rejection of imposing any fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, considering the strait “a waterway that does not belong to any nation.”

He warns that Iranian tolls on ships passing the Strait of Hormuz would spread to other waterways, risking “total chaos.”

For his part, the Bahraini Foreign Minister welcomed the efforts that led to the cessation of hostilities and the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran. He also praised the Sultanate of Oman’s announcement of the establishment of a temporary corridor for ships to transit the strait.

He affirmed that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries look forward to a new phase based on respect for the sovereignty of states, the protection of maritime routes, and the strengthening of regional stability. (Agencies + EIR)