U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington will work with regional partners to pursue constructive dialogue that could lead to an agreement with Iran.

This diplomatic push comes as the U.S. attempts to stabilize the Gulf region by balancing the need for a negotiated settlement with the security requirements of its allies. Ensuring that regional interests are protected is central to preventing further escalation in a volatile area.

Rubio made the statements June 25, 2026 [1], during a Gulf Cooperation Council ministerial meeting in the United Arab Emirates. He said the U.S. intends to coordinate closely with Gulf Arab counterparts to ensure any deal aligns with the economic and security interests of the region.

"Any agreement with Iran will guarantee the interests of the United States' partners in the region," Rubio said [1].

A key point of the U.S. position involves the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio said the waterway must remain an international passage free of tolls to ensure the global flow of energy and trade is not disrupted.

Beyond the pursuit of a deal, the Secretary of State addressed recent hostilities. "Washington condemns the Iranian aggression against Kuwait International Airport," Rubio said [2].

The U.S. approach appears to combine a willingness to negotiate with a firm stance against Iranian aggression. By linking a potential agreement to the protection of partner interests, Washington aims to maintain its coalition of allies while seeking a diplomatic path forward.

“"Any agreement with Iran will guarantee the interests of the United States' partners in the region."”

The U.S. is signaling a dual-track strategy of diplomatic openness and strategic deterrence. By explicitly tying any potential deal with Iran to the security of GCC partners and the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the Rubio administration is attempting to avoid the regional alienation that critics argued characterized previous nuclear agreements.