The reopening marks a significant step in Washington’s efforts to restore its diplomatic footprint in the Gulf after regional tensions eased under a U.S.-Iran agreement reached last week.

The embassy halted services in March after Iranian drone attacks targeted U.S. diplomatic facilities in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia following joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran. The State Department subsequently suspended operations at both missions as security concerns escalated across the region.

At the ceremony in Kuwait City, Rubio participated in the raising of the American flag over the embassy compound as officials announced the phased restoration of consular services.

A State Department spokesperson said the embassy would immediately resume emergency assistance for U.S. citizens, while additional visa, consular and diplomatic services would be reinstated gradually.

Rubio’s visit forms part of a three-country Gulf tour aimed at reinforcing regional partnerships and discussing implementation of the interim agreement between Washington and Tehran that ended hostilities and reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic.

The diplomatic mission began in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday and is focused on reassuring regional allies following months of conflict that disrupted energy markets and heightened security concerns throughout the Gulf.

The agreement signed last week halted fighting between the United States and Iran and established a framework for further negotiations on broader security and political issues. The accord also paved the way for the reopening of critical shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy transit corridors.

The restoration of embassy operations in Kuwait signals improving security conditions following the ceasefire, although U.S. officials have indicated that monitoring of regional threats remains ongoing.

Kuwait hosts a significant American military and diplomatic presence and has long served as a key partner for Washington’s security strategy in the Gulf.

Rubio’s regional consultations are expected to focus on the implementation of the U.S.-Iran agreement, maritime security, energy stability and broader efforts to prevent a renewed escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

The reopening of the embassy represents one of the most visible signs of normalization since the ceasefire took effect, restoring a diplomatic facility that had been shuttered for more than three months amid one of the region’s most serious security crises in recent years.