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Hegseth readies options
The United States warned on Saturday that it is “more than capable” of resuming war with Iran if necessary, as President Donald Trump reiterated that any agreement must meet US conditions including a permanent end to Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the readiness message at a defence summit in Singapore, saying the US was “more than capable” of restarting the war if required and that “our stockpiles are more than suited for that.”
US Central Command (CENTCOM) reinforced the stance on X, stating that American forces “remain present and vigilant across the region.”
The warnings came while talks remained unresolved after a meeting in the White House Situation Room on Friday, with the White House indicating Trump was weighing a potential agreement but not making a decision.
Iranian officials insisted no final deal had been reached, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei saying the Islamic Republic “said goodbye to the language of 'must' 47 years ago.”
Red lines and blockade
Trump’s conditions for a deal included guarantees that Iran would never acquire nuclear weapons and the reopening of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, while a White House official told AFP that “Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon.”
Iran pushed back on the US approach, with Baqaei maintaining that “no final agreement has been reached,” even as messages continued to be exchanged between the two sides.
The dispute also played out through the Strait of Hormuz, where Tasnim reported the US maritime blockade remained in effect and vessels attempting to pass were “receiving warnings from CENTCOM to stop and not cross the blockade line.”
In parallel, diplomatic efforts continued on Lebanon, where Israeli forces advanced in southern Lebanon even as military delegations from Israel and Lebanon met at the Pentagon on Friday.
Channel 4 framed Iran’s reaction to Trump’s latest demands as accusations that he was “betraying diplomacy for the third time,” while Hegseth warned the US was ready to resume combat operations in the Gulf if needed.
What’s at stake next
The US position tied the next steps to whether negotiations produce a signed outcome, with the White House official saying Trump’s meeting in the “war room” ended after about two hours “without announcing whether a decision had been made.”
The same reporting said the US would not sign any agreement that “serves America’s interests and meets his red lines,” while Iran’s President Masoud Bezhkian said his country was ready to reach an “honorable framework” that would lead to the end of the war and tensions in the region.
The consequences of failure were spelled out in the language of preparedness, with Hegseth stressing the United States was “fully prepared to re-engage if necessary,” and that the US military “is more than capable of resuming attacks if necessary.”
The negotiations were also described as hinging on access to Iranian frozen assets, with an Iranian negotiating team member saying Tehran would not sign if Washington did not release part of the Iranian funds frozen.
In the Lebanon track, the Times of India reported that a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect on April 17 but was repeatedly undermined by violations, with both sides blaming each other and a fourth round of talks expected next week.
