US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is facing stiff resistance from Gulf Arab leaders as he attempts to secure regional backing for Washington’s proposed Iran peace deal.
During a diplomatic tour of the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain, Rubio is pitching a draft agreement that local officials fear contains excessive concessions to Tehran.
The concern is that such terms could reshape the region's security balance in favor of Iran, a prospect that has drawn sharp criticism from key US allies in the Gulf.
The diplomatic friction underscores the complexity of the US strategy to de-escalate tensions with Iran while maintaining the security architecture that underpins global energy flows.
Gulf states have long viewed Iran as a primary regional threat, and any agreement perceived as legitimizing Tehran's influence without robust safeguards is likely to meet with skepticism.
This resistance adds a layer of uncertainty to the diplomatic process, as Washington seeks to align its partners before finalizing any deal.