Byline: Knight-Ridder
President Reagan Thursday defended the Soviet Union's right to have a naval presence in the Persian Gulf and said he will seek Moscow's support for a U.S. proposal in the United Nations to end the Iran- Iraq war.
"The Soviet Union has some vessels there and has made it plain they're going to escort their own ships - mainly carrying oil - and therefore, they have a stake, too, in peaceful shipping and the openness of the international waters," Reagan said at a news conference to discuss the results of the seven-nation economic summit that ended here Wednesday.
Reagan's comments suggested a softening of a long-standing U.S. policy of strong opposition to a Soviet role in the Middle East. His remarks also added to a string of conflicting signals from his administration about the precise role Moscow should play in the gulf.
During 30 minutes of questioning on the …
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