US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Warns Iran of Possible Military Action over Nuclear Ambitions
WASHINGTON:US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, saying Tehran could otherwise face devastating American military action.
Addressing Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets at a university in the US state of Tennessee, Hegseth said Iran must soon decide whether to give up its nuclear ambitions through negotiations or face the consequences of US military action.
Hegseth said Tehran was building up a large stockpile of conventional missiles while continuing to pursue its nuclear ambitions. He argued that American military strength was necessary to compel adversaries to negotiate.
The US defense secretary also accused Iran of providing financial support to Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi movement. He said Washington had taken measures to prevent attacks on American troops and naval vessels.
Referring to President Donald Trump’s policies, Hegseth said the United States was working to limit the influence of Iran, China and Russia in Latin America.
He also described the US operation in Venezuela as significant, saying it would have long-term consequences. Hegseth highlighted Venezuela’s oil reserves, describing the country as strategically important to the United States.
