Rubio, Kuwait FM discuss security after ‘reprehensible’ Iranian attacks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held closed‑door talks with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Jarrah Jaber Al‑Ahmad Al‑Sabah on Thursday to discuss the strategic partnership between the two nations following recent military escalations. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Rubio reiterated “the commitment of the United States to Kuwait’s security, to ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon, and restoration of freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Condemnation of Iranian strikes

Rubio condemned the “outrageous and unacceptable” Iranian strikes that recently hit Kuwait International Airport and other parts of the country, expressing condolences for the casualties. The meeting followed an IRGC announcement that it had targeted a US base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. Kuwait responded by declaring two Iranian diplomats “persona non grata.”

Coordination and regional vision

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said the top diplomats reviewed “close historical ties” and affirmed a commitment to strengthening coordination in political, defence, and investment sectors. Both condemned “repeated and reprehensible Iranian attacks” and stressed Kuwait’s “full right” to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Rubio noted on X: “The United States and Kuwait are united in our vision of regional stability and an open and free Strait of Hormuz.”