Hegseth warns Iran to choose a deal or face devastation

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned Iran it faces a choice between abandoning its “nuclear ambitions” and reaching a deal with Washington or facing devastating American military action. Anadolu

“Iran’s going to have a choice to make real quick about whether they’re going to give those up at the table or face the kind of devastation that America can bring and will bring swiftly if necessary,” Hegseth told Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets and military recruits at the University of Tennessee on Saturday, 17 October. TRT World

He accused Tehran of building a large conventional missile arsenal to deter military action while pursuing its “nuclear ambitions”, arguing that US military strength was essential to forcing adversaries to negotiate. Anadolu

Hegseth also accused Iran of funding proxy forces, saying Tehran “funds the proxies in Hezbollah, funds the proxies in the Houthis in Yemen”, adding that Washington had sought to deter attacks on US forces and shipping. Dawn

The defence chief framed the Iran policy as part of President Donald Trump’s wider effort to reassert American power, including confronting drug cartels and limiting the influence of Iran, China and Russia in Latin America. Saudi Gazette

Referring to Venezuela, Hegseth said the US operation there would have “generational implications”, describing the country as a strategic partner and highlighting its oil resources, while Washington seeks to push its rivals out of the Western Hemisphere. Anadolu