US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared Washington ready to resume attacks on Iran if the two sides do not reach an agreement, as US and Iranian negotiators are trying to narrow the remaining major differences.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a leading Asian forum for defense, military and diplomatic leaders, Mr. Hegseth affirmed that the US military capabilities allow the country to quickly restart military operations if necessary.
The ability to restart attacks if necessary is something we can completely do," Hegseth said. According to the US Secretary of War, Washington's military reserves are currently in a state suitable for such operations, not only in the affected area but also globally.
The statement was made at a time when the US and Iran are still trying to overcome the main obstacles at the negotiating table. Although the prospect of reaching an agreement is still maintained, important disagreements between the two sides have not been fully resolved.
Mr. Hegseth said President Donald Trump still shows patience and desire to reach a "big deal", with the goal of ensuring Iran does not possess nuclear weapons. This continues to be one of Washington's key requirements in the negotiation process with Tehran.
Previously, Mr. Trump announced that he would hold a meeting in the White House security room to make a final decision regarding the proposal to end the war with Iran. According to the proposal being considered, the ceasefire established from the beginning of April will be extended for another 60 days. This period is expected to create conditions for the parties to continue negotiations to find a long-term solution to the conflict.
Despite emphasizing the possibility of using military power, the US Secretary of War affirmed that Washington has not reduced its interest in the Asia-Pacific region due to the conflict with Iran.
Mr. Hegseth believes that the US is capable of pursuing many strategic goals simultaneously. According to him, Washington is promoting the capacity of the defense industry to significantly increase arms and ammunition production in the coming time. Expanding production capacity is seen as a factor in ensuring that US operational plans around the world are fully resourced.
