Gulf FMs say Iran proxies , missiles must be addressed for lasting peace

What Happened

Gulf foreign ministers, after a meeting co-chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, issued a joint statement emphasizing that lasting regional peace requires addressing Iran's ballistic missiles, drones, and support for proxies. The statement conditioned any trade and investment with Iran on Tehran's compliance with a memorandum of understanding and a final agreement, as well as cessation of destabilizing behavior and creation of conditions for economic engagement.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The statement signals sustained Gulf–U.S. alignment on Iran's regional activities, tying economic normalization directly to Tehran's nuclear compliance and cessation of support for proxies. This frames any future deal as conditional on broader security guarantees, potentially complicating negotiations.

Watch For

Iran's official response to the conditions; progress on the referenced MOU and final agreement between Iran and the U.S.; further diplomatic coordination between Gulf states and Washington on Iran policy; any escalation by Iran-backed proxies in the region.