The United States stands poised to resume military action against Iran if diplomatic efforts fail, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Saturday. This statement comes as representatives from both Washington and Tehran are engaged in negotiations to resolve significant disagreements hindering a potential agreement.
“We are more than prepared to restart operations if necessary,” Hegseth declared during his address in Singapore.
He continued, “Our resources are more than sufficient for such actions, both in the region and globally, so we are in an excellent position.”
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a key gathering for defense officials, military leaders, and diplomats in Asia, Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. remains committed to the Asia-Pacific region, even while addressing tensions with Iran.
“We’re capable of multitasking. We are rapidly enhancing our defense production capabilities to manufacture munitions at double, triple, or even quadruple the current rates, ensuring all our operational plans are well-supported worldwide,” he stated.
The Pentagon leader also noted that President Trump is exercising patience, aiming for a “great deal” that would prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
On Friday, Trump said he would meet in a secure White House room to make a “final determination” on a proposal to end the Iran war, which would extend an early-April truce for another 60 days, giving negotiators time to forge a permanent end to the conflict.
The war launched by the US and Israel on February 28 has killed thousands of people, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, and caused global economic pain by pushing up energy prices due to Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
