On January 29, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth made strong statements about the US military position. In the context of the volatile Middle East geopolitical situation, the head of the Pentagon sent an unmistakable message to Tehran: The US military is the tool to execute the President's will.
Opening his speech, Mr. Hegseth emphasized that the core task of the new administration is to restore respect and fear from opponents. "We are rebuilding the way the enemy sees America," he said.
From the Pentagon's point of view, past softness may have been seen as a weakness, and now is the time to change that perception with real strength.
The focus of the discussion revolved around the Iranian nuclear issue - one of the "red lines" that President Donald Trump drew. Mr. Hegseth reiterated Mr. Trump's resolute commitment: "When President Trump says we will not accept a nuclear Iran, it means you will not have a nuclear bomb. He is really serious about that.
The statement of the Minister of War did not stop at diplomatic pressure. He affirmed that the military is ready for escalating scenarios if Iran exceeds the limit.
The problem with Iran right now is to make sure they understand that they have options to reach an agreement. They should not pursue nuclear capabilities," Hegseth warned.
The most notable is the commitment to absolute military obedience to orders from the Commander-in-Chief. Mr. Hegseth used the phrase "War Department" to emphasize combat functions: "We will be ready to do whatever the President expects from the Department of War.
This statement was assessed by military observers as a direct warning, implying that the US does not rule out any options, including preemptive military campaigns.
In the context of the US restructuring its national security strategy, Iran is becoming the biggest test of President Trump's administration's commitment to "peace through strength".
