U.S. Defense Secretary: A “Bad Choice” by the Islamic Republic Means Resumption of Military Operations
April 16, 2026
IranWire
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned that should the Islamic Republic reject an agreement and “diplomacy” fail, American military forces are prepared to resume operations.
According to American media reports, referring to the ongoing negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the United States, Hegseth stated that the U.S. military is in a state of full readiness. He noted that in the event of a “wrong choice” by Tehran, the military option will be reactivated, emphasizing that the final decision depends on the Islamic Republic’s conduct regarding a potential deal.
These remarks come as Pakistan’s Army Chief, Asim Munir, has traveled to Iran to deliver American messages and is expected to convey the Islamic Republic’s response to Washington in the coming days.
Hegseth further added: “The Islamic Republic wants to repeat the claim that they have seized control of the Strait of Hormuz, but they have no navy.”
https://iranwire.com/en/news/151302-us-defense-secretary-a-bad-choice-by-the-islamic-republic-means-resumption-of-military-operations/
