The US military is ready to implement any decision President Donald Trump may make regarding Iran, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday, hinting that the US's intent could become clearer in the coming days.
Testifying before a Senate committee, Hegseth was very cautious in his public statements, declining to say whether the Pentagon has prepared options for attacks on Iran.
However, when pressed by lawmakers, he admitted he was ready to carry out any order regarding Iran and warned that Tehran should have heeded Trump's call to make a deal on its nuclear program before Israel launched its airstrikes on Friday.
"They should have made a deal, President Trump's word carries weight. The world understands that. And, at the Department of Defense, our job is to be ready and prepared with options - and that's exactly what we're doing," Hegseth told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump did not answer reporters' questions about whether the United States would attack Iran or its nuclear facilities, but said his patience had run out.
Speaking near the White House, Trump reiterated his call for Iran's "unconditional surrender."
"I might do it, I might not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do," Trump told reporters when asked if he had decided to launch bombing raids on Iran.
Trump said Iran had even hinted that it wanted to send its officials to the White House to talk about Tehran's nuclear program and stop Israel's airstrikes, but added that "it's too late."
Israel launched its bombing campaign against Iran last Friday, and on Wednesday the Israeli military said it had also carried out strikes in western Iran, hitting missile depots and a loaded rocket launcher.
Israel has struck several nuclear and military facilities, killing senior generals and nuclear scientists.
Iran has launched around 400 missiles and hundreds of drones in retaliatory attacks on Israel since then./REL (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
