The USA will pursue anybody who kills or threatens American lives no matter location, the Pentagon’s chief mentioned Monday, issuing a stark warning as preventing with Iran entered its third day following the dying of Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in weekend airstrikes.
Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth informed a information convention in Washington that President Donald Trump doesn’t hesitate when American personnel face hazard and that the administration would search out these accountable with out apology. His remarks got here hours after a fourth US service member died from accidents sustained in Iranian missile assaults on navy installations throughout the Gulf.
Hegseth accused Tehran of stalling throughout months of negotiations whereas secretly reloading its missile arsenal and getting ready for confrontation. He mentioned the Trump administration had exhausted diplomatic choices earlier than launching Saturday’s strikes, which killed Khamenei and destroyed targets throughout Iran.
“President Trump places America and Individuals first. He doesn’t hesitate and neither do our troops,” Hegseth mentioned. “If you happen to take the lives of Individuals, threaten Individuals wherever on earth, we are going to hunt you down with out apology and with out hesitation.”
The protection secretary mentioned Iran’s management had centered on constructing proxies, missiles and what he described as deeply buried nuclear amenities somewhat than investing in peaceable improvement.
He questioned why a rustic claiming peaceable nuclear ambitions would assemble installations beneath mountains.
Hegseth referenced Operation Midnight Hammer, a June marketing campaign he mentioned obliterated Iran’s nuclear program. He claimed Washington warned Tehran on the time that any try to rebuild could be met with even harsher retaliation. In response to Hegseth, senior administration officers together with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, particular envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner pursued repeated diplomatic initiatives that Iran ignored.
“They tried, over and time and again, earnest makes an attempt at peace,” he mentioned. “The previous regime had each likelihood to make a peaceable and wise deal, however Tehran was not negotiating. They had been stalling, shopping for time to reload their missiles.”
Iran has disputed American characterizations of the diplomatic course of, saying Washington imposed unrealistic calls for whereas threatening navy motion. Tehran has accused america and Israel of concentrating on civilian infrastructure and killing tons of of non-combatants in strikes which have hit greater than 130 cities throughout the nation.
The conflicting accounts replicate broader disagreements over what led to the present escalation. American officers say Iran threatened US forces and refused to desert its nuclear ambitions regardless of gives of sanctions reduction and normalized relations. Iranian officers say Washington sabotaged negotiations by insisting Tehran dismantle its defensive capabilities whereas offering no safety ensures.
Hegseth’s remarks urged the Pentagon anticipates sustained operations somewhat than a fast decision. His language—emphasizing relentless pursuit of those that threaten Individuals—indicators an strategy that might maintain US forces engaged within the area for an prolonged interval.
Whether or not Iran will again down or escalate additional stays unsure. The nation’s non permanent management council has vowed to proceed retaliatory strikes till American and Israeli forces stop their offensive, setting the stage for a protracted change that has already drawn in neighboring international locations and disrupted international power markets.
Britain approved america to make use of its navy bases for strikes towards Iranian missile websites Monday, a choice that might increase the battle’s geographic scope.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned the transfer was obligatory for collective self-defense however restricted to neutralizing particular threats.
The mounting American casualties—now 4 lifeless with others critically wounded—could complicate the administration’s messaging that the operation is continuing in keeping with plan. Trump has mentioned the battle may final weeks, although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought to reassure allies it won’t turn out to be an countless warfare.
Hegseth didn’t present particulars about ongoing operations or specify which Iranian targets stay on the Pentagon’s checklist. His concentrate on Iran’s nuclear program means that amenities associated to uranium enrichment and weapons improvement stay priorities regardless of the June strikes he described as having decreased this system to rubble.
Iran has rebuilt parts of its nuclear infrastructure since earlier rounds of assaults and sabotage, in keeping with Worldwide Atomic Power Company stories. Whether or not the present marketing campaign will completely dismantle these capabilities or merely delay them is dependent upon the scope of strikes and Iran’s willpower to reconstitute what it loses.
The protection secretary’s warning that america will pursue threats wherever extends the potential battlefield past the Center East. Iranian belongings and personnel function throughout a number of continents, and proxies aligned with Tehran preserve presence in Latin America, Africa and components of Asia.
