Rubio distances himself from Vance-led Iran deal as Gulf tour continues

Secretary of State avoids political ownership of the MoU, while Vice President JD Vance emerges as its architect.

Rubio distances himself from Vance-led Iran deal as Gulf tour continues — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is consciously distancing himself from political responsibility for the upcoming memorandum of understanding with Iran, according to Fox News senior commentator Will Riccardella.[^1] The initiator of the agreement with Tehran is Vice President JD Vance, who advocates for reducing tensions and gradual normalization through trade.[^1] This division suggests a deliberate strategy: Rubio, whose presidential ambitions are no secret, may be positioning himself to critique the deal if it falters, while Vance takes ownership of its success. Meanwhile, Rubio has embarked on a diplomatic tour of Gulf countries, where he is discussing the parameters of the future agreement.[^1] The tour comes as Iran reasserts its right to control shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and warns Gulf states against aligning with the US, following an attack on a ship near Oman that underscores the fragility of the preliminary deal.[^2] Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated on X that safe passage cannot be guaranteed without taking Iran's role as a coastal state into account.[^2] Ali Akbar Velayati, top adviser to Iran's supreme leader, warned Gulf states that their stability depends on Iran's management of the strait.[^2] The memorandum of understanding, signed in June 2026, secured a ceasefire in the war that began in late February and includes a reconstruction fund of about $300 billion.[^1] But the deal's durability is already being tested: Iran's warnings over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil shipments, signal that Tehran intends to leverage its geographic position. Rubio's Gulf tour may aim to reassure allies, but his careful avoidance of direct association with the MoU leaves a question hanging over the administration's unity on Iran policy. Tripartite Framework Signed as US-Israel Ties Face Crosscurrents — This evening in Washington, Israel, Lebanon, and the United States signed a tripartite framework agreement, a step US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called 'the hardest' but 'the most important,' while cautioning that 'there is still a lot of wo