Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel spoke extensively about Iran at two stops of his Middle East tour. On May 14, Hagel assured Arab Gulf states that a nuclear deal with Iran would not harm their security. “We will continue to hold Iran accountable for its destabilizing activities across the region,” he said at the U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Defense Dialogue in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Hagel continued to Jordan and then to Israel. He pledged to preserve Jerusalem’s qualitative military edge so that it could counter challenges like Tehran’s ballistic missiles. Both Israel and the Gulf states are concerned about Iran’s latent nuclear capabilities and its potential reemergence as a regional player. The following are excerpted remarks from Hagel’s trip.
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
“By strengthening the GCC, you will ensure that your collective defense is more than the sum of its parts. You will strengthen your ability to prevent and deter aggression. You will strengthen, not weaken, each of your nations’ sovereignty. And you will expand your common interests – not just in defense, but in a more stable, peaceful, and prosperous future.
“This approach is how the region must continue to address the threats posed by Iran.
“As we meet here today, diplomats from the United States and other P5+1 nations are in Vienna. They are in Vienna to see if our concerns with Iran’s nuclear program can be resolved diplomatically.
“We got to Vienna thanks to our collective efforts to isolate Iran diplomatically and economically, and to deter it militarily. And as negotiations progress, I want to assure you of two things.
“First, these negotiations will under no circumstances trade away regional security for concessions on Iran’s nuclear program. Our commitment to Gulf security and stability is unwavering.
“Second, while our strong preference is for a diplomatic solution, the United States will remain postured and prepared to ensure that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon – and that Iran abides by the terms of any potential agreement.
“No matter the outcome of the nuclear negotiations, the United States remains committed to our Gulf partners’ security. We will continue to consult closely with you as these negotiations progress – as I am here today. We will continue to hold Iran accountable for its destabilizing activities across the region. And we will continue working closely with all of our friends and partners in the Gulf to reinforce their defenses against these destabilizing activities. My proposals today – focused on air and missile defense, maritime security, and cyber security – should make America’s commitment clear.”
May 14, 2014 in remarks to the U.S.-GCC Defense Dialogue in Jeddah
“We reaffirmed our commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon – and ensuring that its program is exclusively peaceful. While we noted that Iran’s diplomatic engagement has been a positive development, we continue to share deep concerns about Iran’s destabilizing activities throughout this region, including its sponsorship of terrorism, its support for the Assad regime in Syria, and its efforts to undermine stability in GCC member nations. That is why we committed to continuing to work together to reinforce GCC defenses and capabilities.”
May 14, 2014 to media at the U.S.-GCC Defense Dialogue in Jeddah
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
“We’ve been saying all along that Iran is trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the international community, so I wasn’t surprised and I’m sure you weren’t surprised by the recent U.N. report on Iran’s ongoing efforts to deceive the international community, to continue to develop its ICBMs and to continually violate its commitments of Security Council stipulations on forbidding it to develop certain parts of its nuclear program.
“They [Iranians] continue to do that, and I think that requires very clear and firm policy on the part of the world powers, the P5+1, and I think as the talks with Iran continue, one thing must guide the international community, and that is we must not let the Ayatollahs win. We must not let the foremost terrorist state of our time, Iran, develop the capability to produce nuclear weapons.”
May 16, 2014 in a meeting with Secretary Hagel
“My Israeli counterpart and I “also discussed America's unwavering pledge to preserve Israel's qualitative military edge, including the provision of some of America's most advanced capabilities, such as the V-22 Osprey, the F-35, and sophisticated aircraft radar. We addressed ways to strengthen our nations' cooperation on a host of security challenges, ranging from the conflict in Syria, to Iranian ballistic missiles.”
May 15, 2014 at a joint press conference with Israel’s minister of defense
Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Ya’alon
“I believe the United States and Israel share the same goal: not to allow a military nuclear Iran. And I believe that we share the same assessment regarding intelligence, predicting what might come out in the future. We might have differences, even disputes regarding how to get to it. But we have the open channels as we have Secretary of Defense and myself, Ambassador Rice, while she was here, speaking with our prime minister, and other channels.
“The bottom line is that Israel should be ready to defend itself by itself.”
May 15, 2014 at a joint press conference with Secretary Hagel