U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said today that the United States is prepared to strike Iran if nuclear talks fail, just one day after indirect discussions between Washington and Tehran were described by both sides as “constructive.”
“If we can’t resolve this at the negotiating table, there are other options to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear bomb,” Hegseth told Fox News.
Referring to recent U.S. military actions in the region, particularly against Houthi targets, Hegseth emphasized American military readiness: “With what we’ve done against the Houthis and in the region, we have demonstrated the ability to go far, deep, and very strong. We don’t want to reach that point, but if necessary, we will act to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.”
The United States and Iran, which have not had diplomatic relations since 1980, held indirect talks on Saturday in Oman. Hegseth characterized the discussions as “very constructive,” a sentiment echoed by Tehran. Negotiations are expected to continue on April 19.
