Hegseth warns of military action against Iran if talks fail

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has indicated that military action against Iran remains a possibility if current negotiations over its nuclear program fail. He emphasized that President Trump is 'dead serious' about preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and has stated that peaceful negotiations are the preferred route. However, Hegseth warned that if diplomacy does not succeed, the U.S. is prepared to take military steps to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear arsenal. Trump has consistently echoed this sentiment, asserting that Iran must not have nuclear capabilities and that military action could be on the table if necessary. The ongoing talks, which have seen varying degrees of constructive dialogue, are critical as Western nations remain skeptical of Iran's nuclear intentions. Iran, for its part, continues to deny any ambitions to develop nuclear weapons, asserting that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes only.