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The United States has warned that it remains fully capable of resuming military action against Iran if necessary, as efforts to secure a peace agreement between the two countries continue without a final breakthrough.
Speaking at a defence summit in Singapore on Saturday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington retained the military capacity and resources to restart hostilities if circumstances required. He said US forces remained prepared both in the Middle East and globally.
“Our ability to recommence if necessary is (that) we are more than capable, our stockpiles are more than suited for that, both there and around the globe, because of how we balance exquisite and more plentiful munitions,” Hegseth said.
The warning came after President Donald Trump reiterated that any agreement with Tehran must meet key US conditions, including a commitment that Iran would never acquire nuclear weapons.
Although the White House has indicated that discussions are progressing, Iranian officials have maintained that no final agreement has been reached.
A White House official said that Trump would only approve a deal that aligns with US interests and satisfies his core demands, particularly preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
“President Trump will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his red lines,” a White House official told AFP.
“Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon,” the official added.
Iran, however, rejected what it described as attempts to impose conditions on the country. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran had long rejected the language of ultimatums, while confirming that exchanges between both sides were still ongoing.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also told the Emir of Qatar that Tehran remained willing to pursue a framework capable of ending the conflict while preserving the country’s dignity and interests.
Trump had earlier suggested that any agreement could include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the removal of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, while sanctions and restrictions on Iranian ports could be eased.
However, Iranian media reports disputed several of those claims, saying such provisions were not part of any agreed text and that Tehran was seeking access to billions of dollars in frozen assets.
The latest diplomatic efforts have been complicated by recent military exchanges, including US strikes on Iran’s Bandar Abbas port and retaliatory action by Tehran.
Meanwhile, fighting has continued in Lebanon, where Israel and Hezbollah remain engaged despite previous ceasefire arrangements. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said Israeli troops had advanced further into Lebanese territory, while Hezbollah reported attacks on Israeli positions in northern Israel and southern Lebanon.
Direct talks between Israel and Lebanon are expected to continue, with another round of discussions anticipated in Washington next week as efforts to reduce tensions across the region persist.
