'We'll keep sea lanes open'

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ABOARD USS JOHN C. STENNIS -- From an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf, Vice President Dick Cheney warned Iran yesterday the United States and its allies will keep it from restricting sea traffic as well as from developing nuclear weapons.

"We'll keep the sea lanes open," Mr. Cheney said from the hangar deck of the USS John C. Stennis as it steamed about 150 miles from the Iranian coast.

Mr. Cheney is touring the Middle East asking Arab allies to do more to help Iraq and to curb Iran's growing power in the region. With Iraq in turmoil, both Iran and Saudi Arabia are maneuvering to see who can help fill the leadership vacuum.

The vice president made clear the United States' intentions on the rivalry. "We'll stand with others to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons and dominating this region," he said.

Today, Mr. Cheney will make a fence-mending visit to Saudi Arabia. The oil-rich kingdom, long a key American ally in the Middle East, recently has been shunning the U.S.-supported government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, suggesting he is too close to Iran.

Roughly a quarter of the world's oil supplies pass through the narrow Strait of Hormuz connecting the Persian Gulf with the open waters of the Arabian Sea. Iran controls the eastern side of the strait.

With two U.S. carrier groups now in the region, the vice president declared, "We're sending clear messages to friends and adversaries alike. We'll keep the sea lanes open."

The carrier was in the Gulf about 20 miles off Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Mr. Cheney is spending time there after a two-day tour of Iraq.

After returning from the carrier, Mr. Cheney had dinner with Emirates Crown Prince Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Today, before leaving for Saudi Arabia, Mr. Cheney is expected to press Emirates President Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to support U.S. efforts in Iraq and to shut down Iranian companies in his country that U.S. officials think are backing Iran's nuclear development.

About 500,000 Iranians live in the Emirates.

Mr. Cheney's visit comes just two days before Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is to visit Abu Dhabi.

Mr. Ahmadinejad wants the Emirates and other Gulf Arab countries to drop their military alliances with Washington and join Iran in regional efforts. The United States has about 40,000 troops on land bases in Gulf countries outside Iraq and about 20,000 sailors and Marines in the region.

No Gulf state has yet backed Iran's offer of an alliance.