US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Bahrain ahead of the Gulf Cooperation Council meeting. In a statement there, Rubio emphasized Washington's commitment to protecting the interests of its Gulf allies.
Rubio's visit takes place amid rising tensions in the region. The US official's meetings are expected to focus on Iran's nuclear program and regional security issues.
Iran makes nuclear inspection statement
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that visits to Iran's nuclear facilities would take place. However, the Tehran administration presented a different position regarding the timing of these inspections.
Iran reported that inspections of its nuclear facilities will only occur if a final agreement is reached with the US. This statement is seen as a significant indicator of the direction of ongoing negotiations between the two countries.