Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, also visited Bahrain, home to Washington's Fifth Fleet, as anti-regime protests gathered steam in the kingdom.

The key US ally has been rocked by anti-regime protests since February 14 as thousands of mainly Shiite protesters demand an end to the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty which has ruled Bahrain, a majority Shiite country, for over 200 years.

Mullen has been touring the Gulf since Sunday to reassure US regional allies after mass revolts in the Arab world that have toppled two of Washington's allies, Tunisia's Zine El Abdine Ben Ali and Egypt's Hosni Mubarak.

Mullen has said his visits were aimed at "reaffirming, reassuring and also trying to understand where the leaderships of these countries are going, and in particular in Bahrain."

After having arrived in the Saudi capital Riyadh earlier this week, Mullen then visited Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

He will also head to Kuwait to participate in ceremonies marking the 20th anniversary of the country's liberation in 1991 from Iraqi occupation.

In Oman, Mullen and General James Mattis, commander of US Central Command, in charge of the wars in Iraq and and Afghanistan, met officials whose identities were not disclosed.

The Hormuz Strait through which 40 percent of the world's oil supply passes is less than 50 kilometres (31 miles) wide, with Oman to the south and Iran to the north, and Mullen's visit underlines US determination to keep it open.

Iranian commanders have repeatedly threatened to block navigation through the strait, which links the Gulf to the Indian Ocean, if the Islamic republic comes under attack.

Western powers led by the United States suspect Iran is masking a weapons drive under the guise of a civilian atomic programme, a charge strongly denied by Iran.

"We've been concerned about Iranian capabilities to impede the flow of oil through the Hormuz straight for a long time," a military official travelling with Mullen told AFP.

The Iranians "certainly would have an initial impact but we do not believe they can close it down for a lengthy period of time."

"We have very robust naval capabilities in the region, these are international waterways that they don't own and we're very commited to protect them," said the official.

In Bahrain, Mullen will visit the forces stationed in the Fifth Fleet, the major US Navy base that has been in the kingdom for 63 years.

The Gulf archipelago state has been hit by protests calling on the government, headed by King Hamad's uncle Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman who is widely despised by Shiites there, to step down.

Seven people have been killed in a police crackdown on the protesters.

However, the United States has praised the monarchy for taking "positive steps" to reach out to protesters.

The US Navy has also said that the demonstrations have not disrupted American operations in the kingdom.

"As far as Fifth Fleet operations, no, the demonstrations have not had any impact here -- we're continuing to conduct our regular business out here," a spokesman for the Fifth Fleet told AFP on Monday.

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