ABU DHABI -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Abu Dhabi on June 23, opening a high-stakes Gulf tour aimed at reassuring Washington’s closest Arab allies after a fragile cease-fire framework between the United States and Iran raised fresh questions over regional security and Tehran’s future ambitions.Rubio landed at Al Bateen Executive Airport before meetings with leaders in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain over the next two days, as Gulf capitals weigh the implications of a US-brokered de-escalation deal with Tehran.The visit comes at a delicate moment for the region. Although oil exports and shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz have begun recovering following days of disruption, tensions remain elevated. Iranian officials have accused several Gulf states of quietly facilitating US military operations during recent hostilities, while simultaneously signaling they will continue pressing for a reduced American military footprint across the region.For Gulf monarchies long wary of Iran’s regional influence, Rubio’s mission is both diplomatic and strategic: to assure allies that Washington’s security commitments remain intact, even as the contours of a potential longer-term understanding with Tehran begin to emerge.“We Want to Hear From Them”Speaking to reporters upon arrival, Rubio stressed that Washington’s immediate focus was consultation rather than persuasion.“We have long-standing relationships and partnerships with the three countries I’m visiting,” Rubio said, singling out the UAE as one of Washington’s strongest partners in recent months.