U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that Washington is prepared to resume military action against Iran if efforts to reach a deal fail.
Addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier security forum, Mr Hegseth said the United States has adequate military stockpiles in the region and around the world to undertake such operations if required. He said the country is well-positioned to respond to any contingency.
The U.S. Defense Secretary also asserted that Washington remains firmly committed to the Asia-Pacific region despite its involvement in the conflict with Iran. He said the United States has not shifted its strategic focus away from the Indo-Pacific.
The White House had signalled Trump was close to a decision on an initial deal on Friday after weeks of mixed signals in tenuous negotiations, though Tehran denied there was a final agreement on ending the Middle East conflict that has jolted the global economy.