US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held closed-door meetings with the royal family of Bahrain and senior officials in the UAE amid the push for President Donald Trump's administration to persuade Arab countries to recognize Israel.

In Manama, Pompeo tweeted that he met King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and his son, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

According to him, they have discussed the importance of building regional peace and stability, including the importance of the unity of the Persian Gulf and countering the pernicious influence of Iran in the region.

Pompeo noted that he also discussed efforts to promote greater unity among the Gulf countries, AP reported.

His meetings in Bahrain took place after an agreement was announced on August 13 to normalize relations between the UAE and Israel, mediated by the US.

In a statement after the meeting, Bahrain's state news agency reported that King Hamad highlighted the importance of intensifying efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.