The US military is prepared to carry out any orders President Donald Trump gives in relation to Iran, according to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, as a large naval force moves into the Middle East.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Hegseth warned Iran against pursuing nuclear weapons, which Tehran denies seeking. “We will be prepared to deliver whatever this president expects of the War Department,” he said.
Hegseth pointed to a recent US operation involving Venezuela as evidence of Washington’s resolve, saying it “sends a message to every capital around the world that when President Trump speaks, he means business.”
Trump has described the naval deployment as a “massive” and “beautiful armada,” saying it includes “very big, very powerful ships sailing to Iran right now.” He added that “it would be great if we didn’t have to use them,” but stressed the deployment was intentional.
Despite the military build-up, Trump said he intends to speak with Iranian leaders, setting out two demands: “Number one, no nuclear. And number two, stop killing protesters.”
US military planning appears to be active, with reports indicating Trump is considering a range of options, from strikes on Iranian security forces and nuclear facilities to targeting senior officials, with the aim of reigniting anti-government protests.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told senators this week that the US could act “preemptively” if Iran is seen as a threat to American or allied forces, describing Tehran as “weaker than it has ever been,” while cautioning that regime change would be far more complex than in Venezuela.
Iran has responded with defiance. A deputy foreign minister said the country is “200 percent ready to defend itself,” warning that any US attack would be met with an “appropriate response, not a proportionate one.” Iran’s UN mission said it is “ready for dialogue,” but warned that if pushed, it would “respond like never before.”
