New Delhi, May 26 (ANI): United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio addresses during the Quad Foreign Ministers' Joint Press statement, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI Photo/Rahul Singh)
WASHINGTON, June 23 (ANI) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to begin a three-day visit to the Middle East on Tuesday, with discussions on regional issues and the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) expected to be high on the agenda.
According to a statement from the U.S. Department of State, Rubio will travel to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain from June 23 to 25.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain from June 23-25,” the department said in a release.
During the trip, Rubio is expected to discuss efforts to ensure secure and uninterrupted transit through the Strait of Hormuz. He is also scheduled to meet with representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Bahrain.
“The Secretary will discuss a range of regional priorities, including the memorandum of understanding with Iran, efforts to secure full and safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and the importance of peace and stability in the region,” the State Department said.
“In Bahrain, the Secretary will also meet with the Gulf Cooperation Council to discuss shared priorities across the region,” it added.
Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the Strait of Hormuz would not return to its pre-war operational framework and asserted that Iran would administer the strategic waterway while continuing to observe international regulations.
According to Iranian state media outlet Press TV, Ghalibaf made the remarks upon returning from Switzerland on Monday following the conclusion of the initial round of technical talks with the United States under the 14-point memorandum of understanding between the two countries.
“Everyone should know that the administration of the Strait of Hormuz will never go back to the way it was before the war,” Ghalibaf said.
“Of course, international regulations will be observed, but Iran will administer the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.
Ghalibaf also claimed that Iran demonstrated significant leverage during the recent negotiations in Switzerland and was able to influence the outcome of discussions.
He further alleged that Tehran compelled the United States to revise a social media post within an hour after President Donald Trump warned Iran against supporting proxy groups in the region, particularly in Lebanon, in what was widely interpreted as a reference to Hezbollah.
Addressing broader regional developments, Ghalibaf linked the ongoing negotiations to wider conflicts across the Middle East, including the situation in Lebanon, while reiterating Iran’s longstanding distrust of the United States.
“We have never trusted the Americans; we don’t trust them now, and it is only reasonable to remain distrustful in the future,” he said.
The remarks came after the completion of the initial round of technical talks under the MoU aimed at ending hostilities in West Asia. Both sides agreed to establish a high-level committee and develop a roadmap toward a final agreement within 60 days. (ANI)
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