Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Wednesday promised U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf that negotiations to contain Iran�s nuclear program will not weaken their security.

In remarks opening a conference with his Gulf counterparts, Hagel said Washington is hopeful of progress this week in the Iran deal-drafting talks in Vienna.

�As negotiations progress, I want to assure you of two things,� Hagel told the Gulf Cooperation Council. �First, these negotiations will under no circumstances trade away regional security for concessions on Iran�s nuclear program.�

The Pentagon chief continued, �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.�

Even if Tehran backs out of the nuclear negotiations, Hagel said, �the United States remains committed to our Gulf partners� security.� He said there are about 35,000 U.S. troops in the Gulf region.

After his meeting with the Gulf ministers, Hagel said they all agreed on the need to ensure that Iran�s nuclear 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 the region, including its sponsorship of terrorism, its support for the Assad regime in Syria and its efforts to undermine the stability in GCC member nations,� Hagel said.

Hagel also addressed the ongoing civil war in Syria, describing it as a confluence of �violent extremism, fragile states and humanitarian emergencies.�

�The United States remains committed to working with your governments toward a negotiated, political solution that ends the violence and leads to a representative and responsive government,� he said.

(AP)