US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatens the United States could “Strongly hit” Iran if nuclear discussions fail, according to AFP. The warning comes one day after the rare discussions between the two countries, meant to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Pete Hegseth. Photo Facebook Pete Hegseth,
“If we cannot solve the problem at the negotiation table, there are other options to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear bomb,” Hegseth said on Sunday in an interview for CBS.
“We will do it to prevent Iran from obtaining the nuclear bomb.”
The US Defense Secretary added:
“With what we do against (rebels) Houthi and in the region, we showed up the ability to hit far and very strong (…) We do not want to reach that point, but if we need to, we will do it to prevent Iran from obtaining the nuclear bomb”.
On Saturday, the two countries, which no longer have diplomatic relations since 1980, discussed under the mediation of Sultanate Oman.
Hegseth described discussions as being “Very constructive”Like Tehran. The discussions will continue next Saturday.
For decades, Western countries, led by the United States, suspect that Tehran wants to equip themselves with nuclear weapons. Iran, whose economy is suffocated by sanctions, rejects the accusations and says that its nuclear activities are limited to civil purposes.
Why the US withdrew from the international nuclear agreement with Iran
The United States withdrew from 2018 from an international nuclear agreement with Iran, a partially motivated decision by the lack of measures against its ballistic missile program, perceived as a threat to its Israeli ally.
But Donald Trump resumed contact in March, sending a letter to Tehran to relaunch nuclear negotiations, in order to replace the previous agreement that had become null.
The US president has threatened to bomb Iran if diplomacy fails and imposed additional sanctions on the Iranian oil sector.
Iran claims he wants a “serious and fair” agreement with the United States
We recall that Iran announced on Friday that he wants a “serious and fair” agreement with the United States on the Iranian nuclear program, the day before negotiations between the two countries in Oman, AFP reports.
Previously, Donald Trump also announced that the United States and Iran are about to start direct discussions on Tehran's nuclear program. He has launched a harsh warning that if the discussions are not successful, “Iran will be in great danger.”
