Gates praises Gulf, but worries over Iran

WASHINGTON, June 24 (UPI) -- Iran is complicating efforts toward regional stabilization, notably in Iraq, though trends in the Gulf region are positive, the U.S. defense secretary said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates addressed an audience of defense ministers from the Gulf region at a Washington conference to highlight regional challenges.

He praised developments in missile, air and maritime surveillance in the region, particularly in regard to piracy off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden.

"We have made good progress in this area over the past year," he said.

He cautioned, however, that more work was needed to develop an international response to the piracy threat, while encouraging commercial interests and Gulf nations to work vigilantly to provide for safe traffic corridors.

On the issue of the fallout from the disputed Iranian elections, Gates said the matter was largely an internal issue but voiced his support for the civilian right to peaceful dissent.

Iran's nuclear ambitions and its involvement in the regional state of affairs, meanwhile, remains a top concern for the United States, the defense secretary said.

While Iraq moves to embrace its political and economic potential, the Gulf nations should embrace the new government to coordinate with the strategic interests of Washington and the Gulf states.

He concluded with a note of cautious optimism about the Gulf region, however, saying that despite historic acrimony, regional progress should be commended.