Hegseth says US ready to strike Iran if talks fail

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington is fully prepared to resume military strikes against Iran if ongoing diplomatic efforts fail to produce an agreement.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, Hegseth stressed that the military option remains available despite continued negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

He said President Donald Trump is showing "patience" at this stage but remains committed to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Hegseth added that the US defense industry is operating at full capacity, underscoring Washington's readiness to act should diplomatic efforts collapse.