Key facts
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the U.S. will align with Gulf allies on Iran negotiations.
- Rubio consulted with Gulf partners during a regional tour to ensure their involvement in U.S.-Iran discussions.
- Washington will not agree to terms that compromise the security of its regional allies.
- Technical teams from the U.S. and Iran are scheduled to meet in Switzerland on June 29-30.
- The upcoming talks will concentrate on Iran's nuclear enrichment program, excluding its ballistic missile capabilities.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. intends to maintain complete alignment with its Gulf allies as negotiations with Iran progress. Speaking to reporters, Rubio indicated that his recent tour of the region was specifically designed to consult with Gulf partners and ensure their active involvement in all discussions surrounding the U.S.-Iran agreement. Rubio emphasized that Washington would not pursue any deal that could undermine the security of its long-standing allies in the region. His comments come ahead of an upcoming Gulf Cooperation Council meeting, where the memorandum of understanding with Iran and broader regional security concerns are expected to be primary topics of discussion. Rubio described the conversations as "frank" and "constructive."
Technical teams from the United States and Iran are expected to meet again in Switzerland on June 29 and 30, according to Rubio. The discussions will focus on Iran's nuclear enrichment program, with Rubio stating that the current negotiations are not addressing Iran's ballistic missile program or delivery systems. Washington's priority remains ensuring that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. Rubio added that the U.S. believes recent military action has sufficiently degraded Iran's capabilities, allowing the talks to concentrate on the nuclear file.