Any Iran deal will ensure security of Gulf allies: Rubio

MANAMA, June 25: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Gulf allies on Thursday that any deal with Iran would take their interests into account, as he wrapped up a Middle East trip aimed at selling the Trump administration's preliminary accord to sceptical regional partners.

Speaking at a meeting of Gulf Arab foreign ministers and officials in Bahrain �" home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet �" Rubio said Washington was seeking an enduring peace with long-time foe Iran that would not undermine the security and prosperity of its allies in the oil-rich region, which fear the accord is too soft on Iran after it attacked them in the war.

Iran fought two of the world's most powerful armies - the U.S. and Israel - during the conflict and took effective control of the vital Strait of Hormuz, heavily disrupting oil flows and rattling global energy markets and the wider economy.

"The reality of it is that no country on Earth has the right to charge for the use of international waterways. And that will never be an acceptable condition of any deal. The president's been fundamentally clear about that," said Rubio.

Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, who chaired the gathering, welcomed Oman's announcement of a corridor for the safe passage of vessels through the strait.

Rubio's three-day tour of the Gulf is the first high-level diplomatic mission since the U.S.-Iran framework agreement last week to end the conflict, which started on February 28 with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.�" REUTERS