Marco Rubio's Gulf Tour Excludes Israel Amid US-Iran Negotiations

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's decision to exclude Israel from his current Gulf tour has sparked growing questions about the state of relations between President Donald Trump's administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This development comes amid ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran and related regional understandings.

CNN reported that despite Rubio's known pro-Israel stance, he did not include Tel Aviv in his itinerary, which covered several Gulf Arab states. The visit's agenda prominently featured regional issues such as the US-Iran negotiations and the future of regional calm.

US-Gulf Relations and Regional Security

According to CNN, analysts interpret Israel's absence from the tour as a sign of emerging divergences between Washington and Tel Aviv, especially given rising tensions over regional matters like Lebanon. The US administration fears that any escalation between Israel and Hezbollah could jeopardize the emerging understandings connected to the negotiation track with Iran.

The network cited Danny Citrinowitz, former head of the Iran branch in Israeli military intelligence, who stated that Rubio's omission of Israel "indicates tension between the United States and Israel." He added that this move also reflects Washington's view that Israel is not a direct party to the current negotiations, whereas Gulf countries are seen as playing a central role in their success.

US State Department's Position on Israel's Exclusion

The US State Department sought to downplay the significance of Israel's exclusion. Spokesperson Tommy Beghot told CNN that the visit's purpose was to thank Gulf allies for their support of US efforts and to celebrate the resumption of operations at the US embassy in Kuwait. He noted that Rubio had made several visits to Israel recently and maintains regular contact with Israeli officials.

Rubio also emphasized that international law prohibits imposing fees on international waterways, underscoring the legal framework governing regional maritime issues.

Israeli Political Reactions and Regional Implications

The timing of Rubio's tour attracted particular attention within Israeli political and media circles, coinciding with ongoing US-Iran negotiations and potential agreements to ease some sanctions on Tehran. CNN highlighted that media and political figures close to Netanyahu sharply criticized the proposed deal, arguing that any sanction relief before resolving Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile issues would grant Tehran greater scope to expand its regional influence.

Yossi Mekelberg, a researcher at the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House in London, told CNN that Israel faces a US administration "acting according to what it deems in its interests." He added that Netanyahu is no longer a key player in the current negotiation process despite his attempts to influence its course.

Israel's Role in US-Iran Negotiations

CNN further noted that several experts consider Israel in recent months as one of the main actors capable of obstructing any potential US-Iran understanding. This stance has been reflected in criticisms from President Trump and his deputy JD Vance toward Israeli positions on multiple occasions.

Observers conclude that Israel's omission from Rubio's Gulf tour is closely linked to the shifts in Washington's approach to the Iranian file, which currently prioritizes maintaining the negotiation track and preventing any regional escalation that might threaten prospects for a broader agreement in the near future.