The US Secretary of Defense confirmed that the US military is ready to return to combat in the Middle East if Iran refuses to reach an agreement, but stressed that President Trump does not want that to happen.
On Saturday, 30 May 2026, Pete Hagseth, the US Secretary of Defense, said the US military is prepared to resume combat operations in the Persian Gulf region if necessary, and currently holds a stronger strategic position than when the conflict first began.
"We are focusing on troop deployments and preparing to return to combat if needed," Hagseth said during a visit to Singapore last Saturday. However, he noted that US President Donald Trump prefers to avoid such an outcome.
Hagseth stated that the president's goal is to ensure Iran does not possess nuclear weapons capability, and "those objectives have not changed at all."
He also mentioned that Iran is "moving in the same direction as us. Negotiations are effective, and I believe they understand how this should proceed."
"They want to claim control over the Strait of Hormuz, but in reality, it is us who control it," Hagseth added.
Earlier, during the Shangri-La Dialogue conference in Singapore, Hagseth said President Trump is exercising patience to ensure that any peace agreement with Iran guarantees that Iran cannot acquire nuclear weapons.
"If Iran refuses to make a great deal that guarantees no nuclear weapons, they will face the US military," Hagseth said, adding that the US arsenal is more than sufficient to decisively conclude any conflict.
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Source:CNN