Former US assistant secretary of state Mark Kimmitt says the United States must rebalance its relationship with the Gulf region because of growing financial pressure. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Kimmitt said the US can no longer continue its current level of military spending while national debt costs keep rising. He referred to the “Ferguson Rule,” an idea by economist Niall Ferguson that says an empire begins to decline when debt payments become higher than defence spending. Kimmitt said the US crossed that point two years ago. He added that the proposed $1.5 trillion US defence budget would make the problem even worse. Kimmitt said he is not calling for the US to withdraw from the world, but believes Washington must rethink its role in the region. On Iran’s relations with Gulf countries, he said normal ties are unlikely without major political change inside Iran. He described the current relationship as one based on “pressure and threats” rather than mutual respect