ISTANBUL

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed American ambassadors in the Middle East to refrain from public statements that might inflame tensions or undermine nuclear talks with Iran, according to a confidential memo referred to in a report.

The unclassified cable on Monday, that was seen by The Guardian newspaper, warns diplomats that “discipline in public messaging is essential, especially at this time,” and directs them to “refrain from public statements, interviews, or social media activity that could in any way inflame regional audiences, prejudice sensitive political issues, or complicate US relationships.”

The directive is widely viewed inside the Trump administration as a rebuke to US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee following his controversial comments on The Tucker Carlson Show defending Israel’s biblical territorial claims. The comments alarmed advisers and drew criticism across the Middle East.

The order arrives amid faltering last‑ditch talks in Geneva between Iranian negotiators and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to curb Tehran’s nuclear program without resorting to military action.

One person familiar with the matter told the Guardian that Rubio is also expected to travel Monday to Israel n to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, underscoring growing diplomatic urgency, though the State Department declined to comment.