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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed on Wednesday, renewing Washington's commitment to the UAE's security as he began a tour of Gulf states.
Rubio is seeking to reassure close U.S. allies in the Gulf, which were hit hard by Iran during the Middle East war, about the agreement with Tehran.
The memorandum does not address some of the Gulf's long-standing concerns about Iran's missile program and proxies.
"They discussed President Trump's 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," Rubio's spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.
Pigott said Rubio also "thanked the UAE for their leadership and unparallelled support, praised their courage and resilience in the face of Iran's attacks, and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the security of the Emirates."
Rubio arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday evening and held closed-door talks with Sheikh Mohamed the following day.
After the meeting, he left for Kuwait.
Rubio is also expected to travel to Bahrain, where he will attend a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting on Thursday.
His trip is the first by a senior U.S. official to the Middle East since the Iran agreement was signed last week.
Rubio said no country is allowed to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz.
His remarks came after Oman and Iran, which border the waterway, said they were considering charging "costs" for ships navigating the key route for Gulf oil and gas.
"It's an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That's existing international law," Rubio said as he arrived in the United Arab Emirates capital.
The U.S. State Department said the talks with the UAE president included efforts to secure full and safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
The energy-rich Gulf, home to several American military bases, bore the brunt of Iran's attacks in retaliation for U.S.-Israeli strikes that sparked the war on Feb. 28.
The UAE was targeted by more than 2,800 missiles and drones, more than any other country in the region.
Kuwait and Bahrain were also badly hit relative to their small size.
During the war, the UAE doubled down on its alliance with the United States and repeatedly said Iran's missile program and proxies should be addressed.
Regional leaders have long maintained close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump and have pledged to invest billions of dollars in the U.S. economy.
But experts say they have grown wary of an unreliable U.S. partner that left them badly exposed during Iran's attacks.
Rubio's Gulf tour is aimed at reassuring those allies while discussing the Iran agreement, regional stability and free transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
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