Afghanistan, June 24 -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said discussions on Lebanon are separate from ongoing negotiations with Iran, signaling that Washington will pursue Lebanese security issues independently of its broader diplomatic engagement with Tehran.
Speaking in Abu Dhabi during a Gulf tour on Wednesday, Rubio said future arrangements with Iran would not allow Tehran to impose tolls or restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. He added that Iran's political path forward would depend on a series of security-related issues expected to be discussed in the coming days.
His remarks come as Washington seeks support from Gulf allies following the first round of high-level U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland. The negotiation...