US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel promised the Zionist entity on Tuesday that Washington will remain "clear-eyed" and committed to ensuring that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons as Washington pursues engagement.

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel promised the Zionist entity on Tuesday that Washington will remain "clear-eyed" and committed to ensuring that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons as Washington pursues engagement.

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon visited Washington a week before Iran meets six nations over its nuclear program.

"Secretary Hagel noted that while the United States intends to test the prospect for a diplomatic solution with Iran we remain clear-eyed about the challenges ahead," Pentagon spokesman George Little said.

The United States "will not waver from our firm policy to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons," he said.

Israel was outraged by US stance from Iran especially after American officials met with Iranian officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and after President Barack Obama called his Iranian counterpart Sheikh Hasan Rouhani while he was in New York.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged no let-up in pressure on Iran as he did not rule out a military strike.

Hagel, a former Republican senator and Vietnam veteran turned opponent of the Iraq war, has tried to reassure Israel after facing stiff opposition to his nomination following his remark that a Jewish lobby was intimidating lawmakers in Washington.

For his part, Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has said he hopes to reach a settlement over Tehran's nuclear program within a year and will present a package during October 15-16 talks in Geneva with the United States and five other powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.