
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Kuwait and Bahrain as part of his three-nation Gulf tour aimed at reassuring key regional allies amid renewed U.S.-Iran diplomacy. Rubio met Kuwait's Emir and Crown Prince, stressing that Washington would not compromise the security of its Gulf partners while pursuing negotiations with Tehran. In Bahrain, he discussed regional security and the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions persisted over proposed shipping corridors and Iran's warnings to commercial vessels. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump met NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, criticized European allies over Iran, and signaled a possible investigation into fuel prices despite falling global oil markets.