Jasem Al Budaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said the idea of a $300 billion fund to help rebuild Iran was not discussed in meetings between Gulf ministers and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“It was not introduced to me nor to other GCC countries. We don’t know anything about it,” Al Budaiwi told The National in an interview published on June 26, adding: “We did not discuss it.”

He said the topic did not come up during Rubio’s Gulf tour, which included meetings with GCC officials in Manama on June 25, and that he was not aware of any details about who would pay or how the fund would operate.

Al Budaiwi rejected the premise of reports suggesting Gulf states would be asked to contribute as part of a broader US President Donald Trump deal framework with Tehran. “We really don’t know anything about it,” he said.

On broader Iran-related priorities, Al Budaiwi said the GCC’s focus remains regional stability and ending what he described as Iran-backed proxy interference, citing impacts on Gulf states through militias operating across several countries.

He also stressed that the Strait of Hormuz should remain open and that Iran should not impose tolls, calling such fees “not acceptable” and saying this position was reflected in a statement issued with Rubio during the Manama meeting.