The United States has made it clear that its military is ready to take action to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, even as diplomatic talks with Tehran continue in Oman.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Sunday that the US would prefer a peaceful resolution but would not hesitate to resort to military measures if necessary.
Speaking to CBS's "Face the Nation," Hegseth described the initial indirect talks between US and Iranian diplomats in Oman as "productive" and a "good step" toward resolving the West's long-standing concerns over Iran's nuclear program. However, the Pentagon chief emphasized that military options remained firmly on the table.
"While we hope for a diplomatic solution, the United States is prepared to go deep and go big if required," Hegseth said, underscoring the military's capability to act decisively to ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.
President Donald Trump echoed Hegseth’s sentiment earlier in the week, reiterating that military action was "absolutely" a possibility if the ongoing talks failed to yield results.
Trump further stated that the US would coordinate closely with Israel, which has long expressed concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “Israel will obviously be very much involved in that, be the leader of that,” he added, emphasizing the importance of the US-Israel alliance in the face of a potential nuclear threat.
This marks a significant moment in the long-standing international tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear program. In 2018, Trump withdrew the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a multilateral nuclear agreement aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions, citing concerns over Tehran’s non-compliance.
Since then, diplomatic efforts to revive the deal have stalled, and analysts now warn that Iran could be mere weeks away from developing a nuclear weapon. Tehran has consistently denied any intentions to build nuclear arms, despite growing evidence of its advancing nuclear capabilities.
Earlier this year, Trump issued a stark warning: “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” signaling that the US would not shy away from military strikes if Iran continues its nuclear pursuit.
While US officials have reiterated their preference for a peaceful resolution, the prospect of military intervention looms large, with the US military ready to act if diplomacy falters.
The coming weeks will be critical, as both sides prepare for the next round of negotiations, with the world watching closely to see if diplomacy can prevail or if tensions will escalate into direct confrontation.
