{"id":63725,"date":"2026-06-25T07:38:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T11:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/rubio-signals-friction-over-iran-policy-as-gulf-nations-reject-hormuz-tolls\/63725\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T07:38:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T11:38:14","slug":"rubio-signals-friction-over-iran-policy-as-gulf-nations-reject-hormuz-tolls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/rubio-signals-friction-over-iran-policy-as-gulf-nations-reject-hormuz-tolls\/63725\/","title":{"rendered":"Rubio Signals Friction Over Iran Policy as Gulf Nations Reject Hormuz Tolls"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirms zero support from Gulf allies for proposed tolls or fees in the Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, calling such systems &quot;unworkable.&quot;<\/li>\n<li><strong>President Trump is reportedly &quot;very upset&quot; with Italy<\/strong> and other nations regarding their stance on Iran, though Rubio remains confident in signing future bilateral agreements.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Goldman Sachs has rated Intel (<a href=\"\/stock\/INTC\">INTC<\/a>) as Neutral<\/strong>, stating that the current valuation already reflects the company&#39;s projected growth.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Iran&#39;s Quds Force chief issued a direct ultimatum to Israel<\/strong>, warning of a &quot;defeated&quot; retreat if forces do not voluntarily withdraw from southern Lebanon.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Strategic energy shifts are accelerating<\/strong> as Saudi Arabia and the UAE double down on pipeline infrastructure to bypass the &quot;decaying&quot; strategic asset of the Strait of Hormuz.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>US Secretary of State Marco Rubio concluded a high-level meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders today, reporting a unified front against the implementation of maritime fees. Rubio emphasized that <strong>there is &quot;zero support&quot; from Gulf countries for tolls or fees on the Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, clarifying that the administration views &quot;fees&quot; and &quot;tolls&quot; as functionally identical.<\/p>\n<p>The Secretary noted that while the meeting was productive, Gulf partners shared &quot;serious concerns&quot; regarding regional stability. Rubio also dismissed reports of a <strong>$300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran<\/strong>, stating the matter was not discussed and that he is unaware of any transfer of Iranian funds currently held by Qatar.<\/p>\n<p>Tensions within the Western alliance surfaced as Rubio revealed that <strong>President Trump is &quot;very upset&quot; at Italy<\/strong> and other nations over their handling of Iran. Despite this friction, Rubio signaled a diplomatic path forward, stating the US will &quot;work through the issue&quot; and still expects to get pending agreements with Italy signed.<\/p>\n<p>On the corporate front, <strong>Goldman Sachs<\/strong> issued a <strong>Neutral rating<\/strong> for Intel (<a href=\"\/stock\/INTC\">INTC<\/a>). Analysts suggested that the semiconductor giant&#39;s <strong>valuation now accurately reflects its growth trajectory<\/strong>, tempering expectations for immediate near-term alpha.<\/p>\n<p>Regional security risks escalated as the chief of Iran&#39;s Quds Force warned that <strong>Israel must voluntarily withdraw from southern Lebanon today<\/strong> or be &quot;forced to flee defeated tomorrow.&quot; This rhetoric coincides with Rubio\u2019s assertion that the Iranian system remains under the control of &quot;radical clerics&quot; and that the US maintains &quot;multiple options&quot; should diplomatic efforts fail.<\/p>\n<p>Market analysts are closely watching a structural shift in energy logistics as the <strong>Strait of Hormuz is increasingly viewed as a &quot;decaying strategic asset.&quot;<\/strong> Saudi Arabia and the UAE are reportedly doubling down on the <strong>East-West and Fujairah pipelines<\/strong>, which have successfully proven they can operate at scale to bypass potential maritime chokepoints.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirms zero support from Gulf allies for proposed tolls or fees in the 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