Washington: US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has warned that Iran must make a decision soon on its nuclear ambitions, saying Tehran must either abandon them through negotiations or face the prospect of US military action.
Addressing cadets of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at a university in the US state of Tennessee, Hegseth said Iran had to choose between reaching an agreement at the negotiating table and facing the consequences of military action.
Hegseth claimed that Tehran was building up a large stockpile of conventional missiles to deter military action while continuing to pursue its nuclear ambitions.
He also argued that US military strength was necessary to compel adversaries to negotiate, presenting military pressure as a key tool in efforts to achieve Washington’s objectives.
The remarks underscore Washington’s emphasis on combining diplomatic negotiations with military deterrence in its approach to Iran’s nuclear programme.
Note: The statements in this report are attributed to Hegseth as provided in the source material.