US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting the Persian Gulf area to “make sure that their views are taken into account” because the US strikes ahead on negotiations with Iran, he stated upon arriving within the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.
“We’re really here to hear from them more than we are to talk,” Rubio instructed reporters on the tarmac in Abu Dhabi, saying he desires to hear about financial and safety issues.
“We want to hear their thoughts, especially in the aftermath of this weekend in Switzerland, and make sure that their views are taken into account in every decision that we make, because they’re our partners,” Rubio stated as he kicked off his journey to the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain. He can even meet with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the course of the three-day journey.
Rubio stated that the entire allies “are on board for peace,” however he added, “Obviously, it all depends on the details of that peace as we work through.”
“It’s a work in progress,” he stated. “I think good groundwork was laid over the last 72 hours, but a lot of work remains to be done.”
The prime US diplomat stated he wouldn’t be asking allies for financial assist with a mentioned $300 billion Iran reconstruction fund, calling that “far down the road.”
He stated issues about Iran’s missile program and proxy help — a key problem for the area — will “most certainly come up in these conversations.”
Rubio claimed that the difficulty, which isn’t spelled out within the memorandum of understanding introduced by the US and Iran final week, is addressed by it as a result of an entire “end of hostilities in the entire region” will not be attainable “as long as Iranian proxies are launching missiles and drones from Iraq and are participating in terrorism, like Hamas did, and like Hezbollah did.”
“It is an issue that will be gotten to at the appropriate time in these negotiations,” he stated.