Kuwait city: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held closed-door talks Thursday with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to discuss the strategic partnership between the two nations following recent military escalations, according to the State Department.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Secretary reiterated the commitment of the United States to Kuwait's security, ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon, and restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, as stated by spokesperson Tommy Pigott. Rubio condemned the Iranian strikes that recently hit the Kuwait International Airport and other parts of the country, expressing condolences for the casualties.

The meeting follows an announcement Wednesday by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that it targeted a US base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. The attacks, reportedly in retaliation for a US strike on an Iranian communications tower, prompted Kuwait to declare two Iranian diplomats "persona non grata."

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry mentioned that the top diplomats reviewed "close historical ties" and affirmed a commitment to strengthening coordination in the political, defense, and investment sectors. The meeting also included a condemnation of the Iranian attacks, highlighting both countries' emphasis on safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"The United States and Kuwait are united in our vision of regional stability and an open and free Strait of Hormuz," Rubio noted on a US social media company, X.