The US Secretary of State will visit the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain and meet with the GCC to discuss the Iran talks.
Published June 22, 2026
Top US diplomats are scheduled to visit the Middle East later this week to discuss regional issues including the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iran and the future status of the Strait of Hormuz.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain from June 23 to 25, the U.S. State Department announced in a media release Monday.
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“He will discuss a range of regional priorities, including the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, efforts to ensure full, free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and the importance of regional peace and stability,” the statement said. “The Secretary will also meet with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Bahrain to discuss common priorities across the region.”
The GCC is made up of six Gulf countries and also includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman.
The announcement comes as the United States and Iran seek negotiated solutions to a range of complex issues during a period of consultation outlined in a joint memorandum of understanding to cease hostilities between the two countries.
The deal was generally welcomed across the Middle East, but the war strained relations between Iran and Gulf states that host U.S. military bases. Iran’s attacks on these countries, including attacks on civilian infrastructure, also called into question America’s security partnerships with countries in the region.
Transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor for oil and gas from the Middle East that was largely closed during the war, also remains below pre-war levels, although it has increased since the memorandum was signed.
Over the weekend, 71 ships passed through the waterway, up from an average of 100 to 131 a day before the end of February, when the U.S. and Israel began their war against Iran, according to data analysis firm Kpler.
The memorandum stipulates that Iran will not impose transit fees during the 60-day negotiation period, and the State Department’s announcement emphasized “efforts to ensure complete, free and safe passage” through the strait.
Iranian authorities have indicated plans to charge transit fees after that 60-day period ends.
