Hegseth says US will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons

October 4, 2026 at 03:45 AM2 min

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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons and will preserve a broad range of military options for President Donald Trump. He warned Tehran it could abandon its nuclear ambitions or face further US action. Hegseth neither confirmed nor denied a possible third US aircraft carrier deployment to the region.

Key Facts

Hegseth said preventing an Iranian nuclear bomb is a vital national interest of the United States.
He claimed Iran's naval and air capabilities had been significantly weakened and that US forces could maintain the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz for as long as necessary.
Hegseth said Trump had repeatedly offered Iran to resolve the matter through negotiations.
The Pentagon chief did not name a specific date for ending military operations, saying Trump would make such a decision.

Nuclear Warning

Hegseth warned Tehran that it could abandon its nuclear ambitions or face further US action. According to him, Trump is determined to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He called preventing an Iranian nuclear bomb a vital national interest of the United States.

Military Options

The Pentagon chief neither confirmed nor denied the possible deployment of a third US aircraft carrier to the region. He said that his task is to provide the US president with the widest possible range of military options, also taking into account the global commitments of US forces. Asked about possible timelines for ending military operations, Hegseth did not name a specific date, saying that Trump would make such a decision.

Strait of Hormuz

Hegseth also said that the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz and supports the blockade of Iran. He claimed that Iran's naval and air capabilities had been significantly weakened and that US forces could maintain the blockade for as long as necessary. The secretary acknowledged that Tehran is trying to restore its missile capabilities and military infrastructure. At the same time, he said that the destruction Iran suffered during Operation Epic Fury, according to him, significantly complicates these efforts. Hegseth also said that Trump had repeatedly offered Iran to resolve the matter through negotiations.