US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a telephone conversation with UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan as tensions in the Gulf continued to escalate over Iran.
According to the US State Department, Rubio and Sheikh Tahnoun discussed regional security and coordinated efforts in response to Iranian attacks. Rubio also underscored the importance of maintaining the free movement of commercial and other vessels through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The conversation came as Washington maintained pressure on Tehran amid growing tensions surrounding the key maritime route, through which a significant share of global energy supplies passes.
US President Donald Trump meanwhile said there were no ongoing negotiations with Iran and that no talks had been scheduled. He also claimed that the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remained fully operational and that mines in the area had been cleared.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi offered a sharply different account, saying Washington had failed to force Tehran into surrender and was now seeking negotiations on Iranian terms.
The latest developments highlight the widening diplomatic and military tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over regional stability and the security of international shipping.
