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| Hagel Seeks to Assure Gulf Allies of U.S. Commitment | Hagel Seeks to Assure Gulf Allies of U.S. Commitment |
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| MANAMA, Bahrain — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, opening a week of travels meant to reassure Persian Gulf allies nervous about an interim nuclear deal with Iran, vowed Friday that the Pentagon would not reduce its military deployments to the region or its focus on countering shared security threats. | |
| His message is simple: American military pressure will continue even as diplomacy is given a chance, as Iran and world powers work against a six-month deadline on a comprehensive agreement. | His message is simple: American military pressure will continue even as diplomacy is given a chance, as Iran and world powers work against a six-month deadline on a comprehensive agreement. |
| In an announcement framed to convey that message, Mr. Hagel first spoke on Friday from the deck of a Navy vessel that serves as a floating staging base for Special Operations strike teams, minesweeping helicopters and remotely piloted surveillance aircraft. “We are not going to change any of our military posture in this area or any part of the world during that six-month period,” Mr. Hagel said. | In an announcement framed to convey that message, Mr. Hagel first spoke on Friday from the deck of a Navy vessel that serves as a floating staging base for Special Operations strike teams, minesweeping helicopters and remotely piloted surveillance aircraft. “We are not going to change any of our military posture in this area or any part of the world during that six-month period,” Mr. Hagel said. |
| During his visit here, he plans to offer a blunt guarantee to those who worry that Iran may use the time to hide or bury what is suspected to be its nuclear infrastructure to avoid attack and destruction. “No target is beyond our reach,” Mr. Hagel was quoted as saying in an address he was scheduled to deliver on Saturday. | During his visit here, he plans to offer a blunt guarantee to those who worry that Iran may use the time to hide or bury what is suspected to be its nuclear infrastructure to avoid attack and destruction. “No target is beyond our reach,” Mr. Hagel was quoted as saying in an address he was scheduled to deliver on Saturday. |
| Mr. Hagel will urge regional allies to move beyond buying armaments only as individual nations and embrace purchases of weapons systems as part of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The United States has for years urged the council to cast aside rivalries and evolve into something more akin to NATO, with its mutual security arrangements. | Mr. Hagel will urge regional allies to move beyond buying armaments only as individual nations and embrace purchases of weapons systems as part of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The United States has for years urged the council to cast aside rivalries and evolve into something more akin to NATO, with its mutual security arrangements. |
| The leaders of several Persian Gulf allies have expressed concerns, both private and in public, that the interim deal with Iran gives away too much without going far enough to eliminate what they fear are Tehran’s military ambitions in its nuclear program. They also fear that the focus by the United States and Europe on a nuclear accord with Iran may blind them to other areas where Iran asserts influence across the region, both economically and through a shadowy network of militant activists. | The leaders of several Persian Gulf allies have expressed concerns, both private and in public, that the interim deal with Iran gives away too much without going far enough to eliminate what they fear are Tehran’s military ambitions in its nuclear program. They also fear that the focus by the United States and Europe on a nuclear accord with Iran may blind them to other areas where Iran asserts influence across the region, both economically and through a shadowy network of militant activists. |
| At the same time, American officials must counter a perception here that the region will receive less attention from the Obama administration as it fulfills a pledge to devote more military resources to East Asia. | At the same time, American officials must counter a perception here that the region will receive less attention from the Obama administration as it fulfills a pledge to devote more military resources to East Asia. |
| Those apprehensions were noted by Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of all American forces in the region, who said allies feared that a comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran might allow the United States to “then turn away from the Middle East” but leave Iran’s missile abilities intact, as well as its ability to mine oil tanker lanes and work through its militant terror networks. | Those apprehensions were noted by Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of all American forces in the region, who said allies feared that a comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran might allow the United States to “then turn away from the Middle East” but leave Iran’s missile abilities intact, as well as its ability to mine oil tanker lanes and work through its militant terror networks. |
| “Because we recognize there is some anxiety here, it is important to reassure our allies that we are committed to protecting our interests and helping our allies,” General Austin said in an interview. “Our footprint here is a substantial footprint.” | “Because we recognize there is some anxiety here, it is important to reassure our allies that we are committed to protecting our interests and helping our allies,” General Austin said in an interview. “Our footprint here is a substantial footprint.” |