Dr Anwar Gargash said on Thursday that “new geopolitical realities” cannot be imposed on Gulf countries using aggression.
The diplomatic adviser to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed made the comment in a post on X as Gulf foreign ministers met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manama.
“New geopolitical realities cannot be imposed on the Arab Gulf states as a result of a treacherous act of aggression,” Dr Gargash wrote.
“Imposing a fait accompli born out of aggression does not create stability; rather, it plants new seeds of discord and conflict for the future. This applies particularly to the Strait of Hormuz.”
Mr Rubio met Gulf foreign ministers on Thursday to discuss the US-Iran framework agreement and negotiations with Tehran over a permanent peace deal, as he wrapped up a Middle East trip aimed at selling the preliminary accord to regional partners.
Before heading to Bahrain, he visited the UAE, where he held talks with Sheikh Mohamed. The two stressed the need to focus on security, stability and lasting peace in the region.
Mr Rubio also visited Kuwait on Wednesday, where he reassured Gulf allies that his country “won't do anything” to undermine their security.
Iran launched drones and missiles at all six Gulf Co-operation Council states in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes against it in February. The UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain were among the Gulf countries most heavily attacked by Iran during the war. Tehran also effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial artery for global trade and energy supplies.
Security of Gulf allies
During the Manama meeting, Mr Rubio said that Washington would ensure any agreement reached with Iran protects the interests of its Gulf partners and does not undermine regional security or stability.
“The message that I come with is that we want to ensure that in any decisions that are made throughout this negotiating process, the interests of our partners and our allies in the region are always taken into account,” he said.
“There is no part of this deal that's undertaken that in any way undermines the security, the stability or the prosperity of any of our partners in the Gulf region.”
While Gulf states have broadly welcomed the end of the war, Mr Rubio may face a more difficult task persuading some regional partners of the merits of the US-Iran agreement. Many of those countries view elements of US President Donald Trump’s deal with Tehran – including a $300 billion reconstruction fund – as overly generous to a regional rival.
Mr Rubio said the reconstruction fund was not discussed with Gulf countries during a press conference after the meeting in Manama. “Fund for reconstruction was not discussed. I mean, the reconstruction, that's way down the road. And that's something, you know, that'll be dealt with at the appropriate time in this process,” he said.
The interim agreement does not address Iran's ballistic missile programme or its network of regional proxies, issues that remain among the chief security concerns of Gulf states.
The framework also leaves many important details for later, including the future of Iran's nuclear programme. It does, however, promise significant economic benefits for Tehran, including sanctions relief that would allow Iran to sell oil freely on international markets, as well as access to frozen assets and the reconstruction fund.
At odds on Hormuz
Mr Rubio insisted that any deal must prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons and preserve free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
“No country on earth has a right to charge for the use of international waterways. And that will never be an acceptable condition of any deal,” he added.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said on Thursday that vessels could safely transit the Strait of Hormuz only through routes it has announced, according to a statement carried by Tasnim news agency.
The statement came after Oman and the International Maritime Organisation announced on Wednesday a temporary shipping corridor to facilitate transit and evacuate stranded seafarers.
The IRGC said that co-ordination with its navy was required for all vessels passing through the waterway.
The move puts the powerful military force at odds with Oman. It also signals deepening divisions within Iran's own postwar establishment.
Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, who chaired the gathering in Manama, welcomed Oman's announcement of a corridor for the safe passage of vessels through the strait.
Oman told Mr Rubio and Gulf ministers at the meeting that future arrangements for Hormuz would not involve transit tolls.
Diplomatic push
With diplomacy in full swing, Oman's Sultan Haitham held talks in Muscat on Wednesday with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman on the US-Iran negotiations and the latest developments. Qatar, along with Pakistani mediators, played a key role in brokering the framework agreement.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, meanwhile, held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi before arriving in Manama.
Prince Faisal said last week that Iran's recent attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states had caused a “significant loss of trust” in Tehran and that confidence would need to be rebuilt before economic co-operation could proceed.
Media reports emerged on Wednesday that talks on reconciliation between Gulf countries and Iran are expected to take place in Saudi Arabia. However, two Gulf diplomats told The National this is unlikely to happen soon, saying it is still too early for such talks.
“Gulf states have shown good faith in pursuing peace and continue to rely on diplomacy to resolve the conflict,” said one diplomat. Rebuilding trust with Iran remains a key challenge, the diplomat added.
