The U.S. military stands prepared to execute any decision President Donald Trump makes regarding Iran, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Wednesday, as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies with ongoing Israeli strikes against Iranian targets.
Testifying before a Senate committee, Hegseth maintained a cautious public stance, refraining from confirming whether the Pentagon had prepared specific strike options. However, under questioning from lawmakers, he affirmed the military's readiness to carry out any orders concerning Iran. He emphasised that Tehran should have heeded President Trump's calls for a deal on its nuclear program before Israel's strikes commenced last Friday.
"They should have made a deal. President Trump's word means something. The world understands that. And at the Defence Department, our job is to stand ready and prepared with options, and that's precisely what we're doing," Hegseth told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
When asked if the administration was moving to re-establish deterrence, Hegseth responded, "I think we already have in many ways in this environment re-established deterrence. The question is, in the coming days, exactly what direction that goes."
President Trump, speaking to reporters outside the White House, declined to comment on potential U.S. strikes on Iran or its nuclear facilities. He noted that Iran had reached out for talks but stated, "It's very late to be talking." Trump remarked on the significant shift in the situation from a week ago, asserting, "Nobody knows what I'm going to do." He also described Iran as "totally defenceless, with no air defence whatsoever," as Israel's strikes entered their sixth day.
Sources familiar with internal discussions indicate that Trump and his team are considering options, including the possibility of the U.S. joining Israel in strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected Trump's demand for "unconditional surrender."
Residents of Tehran have reportedly jammed highways, fleeing intensified Israeli airstrikes. In the latest reported bombing, Israel stated its air force destroyed the headquarters of Iran's internal security service.
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U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has delivered a stark message to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies, warning that some member states are falling short on defence commitments and signalling a tougher U.S. approach as the alliance prepares for its upcoming summit in Ankara.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has urged Asian allies to increase military spending, warning of growing concern over China’s rapid military expansion and wider activities in the region.
When Donald Trump boarded Air Force One for Beijing on Tuesday, he brought two cabinet members whose presence in China would have seemed unlikely a year ago, highlighting an unusual moment in U.S.–China relations.
A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday declined to block the Pentagon’s national security blacklisting of Anthropic for now, handing a win to the Trump administration after a separate appeals court reached the opposite conclusion.
India is investigating a data breach at Tata Electronics that exposed sensitive documents linked to Apple's unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, marking the government's first public comments on the incident.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has raised its forecast for the rapid emergence of a strong El Niño, warning the climate pattern is likely to drive higher global temperatures and intensify extreme weather in the months ahead.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day funeral ceremony which begins on Saturday. His casket is currently on display at the Iman Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Eight Buddhist monks were killed and more than 20 others injured after an 11-year-old boy driving his parents' pickup truck ploughed into a religious procession in north-eastern Thailand, police said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence, saying Russia and the United States share a special responsibility for maintaining global security as the world's two largest nuclear powers.
China said on Saturday it had launched a coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei, which accused Beijing of illegally expanding its authority and undermining regional stability.
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Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said, as Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure continued to add pressure to fuel supplies inside Russia.
World Athletics has reaffirmed its decision to keep Russian and Belarusian athletes excluded from international competition, saying there has been no meaningful progress towards peace in Ukraine.
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