Israel says it will join the U.S. effort to boost navigation security in the Persian Gulf as international concerns grow about tensions in the area.

According to Israel-based Y-Net news, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has said on Tuesday August 7 that his country is part of the U.S.-led coalition to protect the security of the Persian Gulf.

Katz further said that Israel is determined to stop Iranian entrenchment in the Middle East region and strengthen Israel's relationship with Gulf countries, Y-Net reported.

Meanwhile, both Katz and Prime Minister Netanyahu have said recently that Israel is improving its ties with the Gulf states including the United Arab Emirates that share Israel's concerns about Iran's regional ambitions.

In another development, the energy minister of Saudi Arabia Khalid A. Al-Falih and his

U.S. counterpart Rick Perry have expressed concern about security of navigation in the Persian Gulf during a meeting in Washington on Tuesday.

Al-Falih tweeted that the two officials agreed that U.S. and Saudi Arabia are determined to maintain security in the region as a requirement for the international supply of energy.

Tensions in the Persian Gulf have been rising in recent months following attacks on shipping by Iran and the downing of a U.S. drone over the Persian Gulf waters.