U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio concludes his Gulf tour on Thursday in Bahrain. Through this tour, he seeks to reassure U.S. allies of Washington's commitment to protecting their interests as it proceeds with negotiations with Iran aimed at reaching a permanent settlement to the war in the Middle East.
اضافة اعلان
The U.S. Secretary of State is scheduled to participate in a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and meet with the Bahraini monarch, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
On Wednesday in Kuwait, Rubio emphasized that Washington would involve its Gulf allies "in talks regarding every decision made in relation to these negotiations" with Iran. This followed his pledge to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi regarding "the United States' commitment to ensuring the security of the UAE."
Gulf states have been impacted by the repercussions of the military escalation between the United States and Iran, following missile and drone attacks.
In the context of preparing for the aftermath of a war that is likely to alter many geopolitical and security considerations, a diplomatic source reported on Wednesday that Riyadh is expected to host a summit in the near future aimed at repairing relations between Iran and its neighbors in the region.
Tug-of-War Over Hormuz
Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) last week and began consultations mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, aiming to reach a final agreement within a renewable 60-day deadline.
Rubio indicated on Wednesday that technical talks between them would resume on June 29 or 30 in Switzerland.
However, major differences remain over several issues, starting with Iran's nuclear program and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, criticism is mounting within the United States over what are perceived as concessions made by U.S. President Donald Trump to Iran in pursuit of a swift end to the war.
On Wednesday, Trump requested an additional $88 billion in funding from Congress, the bulk of which is to cover war costs.
On the other hand, Iran's chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated on Wednesday that "the memorandum of understanding... has turned into a declaration of defeat for America."
The MoU stipulates the reopening of Hormuz, which Iran had closed since the start of the war, causing global market disruptions and a sharp spike in oil prices. The memorandum confirmed that no fees would be imposed on transit traffic during the 60-day negotiation period.
Iran insists that maritime arrangements in the strait will not return to pre-war conditions. This week, in agreement with the Sultanate of Oman, which also overlooks Hormuz, Tehran stated that they would study collecting fees for transit "services" in Hormuz.
However, Washington rejects the imposition of any fees in this vital waterway, a stance reiterated by both Trump and Rubio this week.
"I know of no country in the world that supports the imposition of transit fees or tolls for using the strait," the U.S. Secretary of State said on Wednesday. Prior to the war, one-fifth of global daily oil production passed through the strait.
On Thursday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that any transit through the Strait of Hormuz is contingent upon obtaining permission from Iran and following its designated route, vowing to take "appropriate measures" against non-compliant vessels.
As shipping gradually resumes since the signing of the MoU, oil prices continue to decline.
The benchmark Brent North Sea crude fell slightly and briefly on Thursday below its pre-war level of $72.48 per barrel.
On another front, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Thursday accused NATO of "complicity" in the "illegal war of aggression" against Iran.
This came in response to remarks made by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday, in which he said that "500 U.S. aircraft took off from U.S. bases in Italy" to support the offensive, and that Bucharest airport reduced commercial flights to make way for refueling aircraft used in the operation.
The Italian Ministry of Defense condemned Rutte's statements, considering them to have sent a "completely misleading message," and stressed that Rome only allowed Washington to use its bases for logistical flights and not for combat missions.
The Lebanese Front
Regarding Lebanon—where Tehran insisted that a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel be included in the MoU, while the United States and the Hebrew state sought to separate the two tracks—Ghalibaf confirmed Tehran's position on Wednesday, stating: "A ceasefire in Lebanon was and remains, in our view, as important as a ceasefire in Iran, and the end of the war in Lebanon was as important as the end of the war in Iran."
Rubio stressed on Wednesday that Iran's support for Hezbollah would be raised in subsequent stages of the talks, while affirming the continuation of the direct negotiation track between the Lebanese and Israeli governments, which Hezbollah rejects.
Negotiations resumed on Tuesday in Washington between Israel and Lebanon.
The front in Lebanon has experienced calm since Saturday evening. However, Israel announced on Tuesday and Wednesday that it had targeted individuals suspected of belonging to Hezbollah, which condemned a "flagrant" violation of the ceasefire. Lebanese authorities reported that four people were martyred as a result.
The Israeli army also announced on Thursday the death of one of its soldiers during "operational activity" in southern sheep Lebanon the previous day, while an AFP spokesman reported that the soldier was killed when his vehicle overturned.
The war reached Lebanon on March 2, after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in response to the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the initial Israeli-American strikes.
Israel responded with an extensive campaign of airstrikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, which caused the martyrdom of more than 4,100 people and the displacement of over a million others, according to Lebanese authorities.
AFP
