U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that the United States military stands ready to carry out any actions President Donald Trump decides upon regarding Iran, with the explicit aim of preventing Tehran from pursuing nuclear weapons capability.
Speaking as a large U.S. military presence remains concentrated in the region, Hegseth was asked by the president during a cabinet meeting to comment on the situation. He replied that Iran "should not pursue nuclear capabilities" and affirmed that "we will be prepared to deliver whatever this president expects of the War Department," using the administration's unofficial label for the Defense Department.
U.S. officials have said the president is reviewing options but has not yet made a decision on whether to carry out strikes against Iran. The uncertainty comes amid sharply increased U.S.-Iran tensions that followed a bloody response by Iran's clerical authorities to nationwide protests in recent weeks.
Those demonstrations, which were driven by economic grievances and political repression, have since abated, according to available reporting. President Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States would intervene if Iranian authorities continued to kill protesters. He has also stated that the United States would take action if Tehran resumed its nuclear program, referencing the period after the June airstrikes on key nuclear installations carried out by Israeli and U.S. forces.
Context and posture
Hegseth's comments underline a posture of readiness by U.S. military leadership to execute presidential directives directed at preventing nuclear proliferation by Iran. Officials in Washington continue to evaluate policy options while maintaining a significant force presence in the region.
What remains unresolved
Officials emphasize that the president has not reached a decision on whether to authorize strikes, leaving the next steps contingent on further review and deliberation within the administration.
Note: Reporting is based on statements made during the cabinet meeting and subsequent official characterizations of the situation; details about specific operational plans or timelines have not been disclosed.