Gulf shares concerns with US as Iran’s influence and power continue by proxy

Secretary of State Marco Rubio completed a Middle East tour where he acknowledged serious concerns from Gulf state allies about Iran's regional influence. A deal with Tehran has not satisfied these worries, as leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and across the Gulf fear Iran will continue funding and arming proxy militia groups. According to the Guardian, those groups include Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, various militias in Iraq, and the Houthi movement in Yemen. Rubio stressed that any agreement must include restrictions not just on Iran's nuclear program, but also on its support for these armed factions. The core tension: Gulf states doubt Tehran will genuinely follow through.

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