US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Gulf allies on Thursday that any deal with Iran would take their interests into account, as he wrapped up a Middle East trip aimed at winning over regional partners with deep reservations about the preliminary accord.

Speaking at a meeting of Gulf Arab foreign ministers in Bahrain – home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet – Rubio said Washington was seeking an ‌enduring peace with long-time foe Iran that would not come at the expense of the security of allies in the oil-rich region, many of whom see the deal as too soft after coming under Iranian attack during the conflict.

Iran fought two of the world’s most powerful armies – the US and Israel – during the conflict and took effective control of the vital Strait of Hormuz, heavily disrupting oil flows and rattling global energy markets and the wider economy.

He told reporters that Gulf allies shared some very serious concerns and that they wanted to be informed of every step of the peace accord, which includes provisions on Hormuz.

If ⁠Iran threatens or blocks ships in the Strait of Hormuz, “then we’re going to have a problem”, Rubio said, having earlier told ministers that “no country on Earth has the ‌right to charge for the use of international waterways” and that fees for shipping would never be part of any deal.

Rubio said he did not discuss a US$300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran that is part of the peace proposal. Gulf states fear Iran would use that ‌money to revive its military capacity.