Trump Credits Pete Hegseth For Suggesting Iran Strike, Mentions Ongoing Tensions

 

New Delhi : US President Donald Trump said that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was the first to suggest a potential military strike on Iran during internal discussions on rising tensions in West Asia.

Speaking at the Memphis Safe Task Force Roundtable in Tennessee on Monday, Trump said he held consultations with several top officials before considering any action. Among those he contacted were Hegseth and Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

 

Trump described the conversation as a crucial moment in decision-making. He said he gathered his aides to discuss what he called a growing "problem in the Middle East," referring to Iran's alleged role in regional instability and its advancing nuclear capabilities.

 

“I called Pete, I called General Caine. I called a lot of our great people… And I said, ‘Let’s talk. We have a problem in the Middle East. We have a country, known as Iran, that for 47 years has been just a purveyor of terror, and they’re very close to having a nuclear weapon. We can keep going and get that 50,000 up to 55 and 60, there’s no end, or we can take a stop and make a little journey into the Middle East and eliminate a big problem,” Trump said.

According to Trump, Hegseth was quick to respond and strongly supported the idea of action. "Pete was the first to speak up. He said, 'Let's do it,' because we cannot allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon," Trump stated.

The remarks come at a time when Trump is facing criticism domestically over his handling of tensions with Iran. Despite the strong rhetoric, the US President indicated that military action has not yet been finalised.

Earlier, Trump announced on social media that he had extended the deadline for Iran to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. He also said the US would delay any potential strikes on Iranian energy facilities for five days.

 

Trump further claimed that there have been "Productive conversations" between the US and Iran aimed at resolving the conflict. However, Iran had firmly denied these claims, calling them "fake news" and accusing the US of trying to influence global oil and financial markets.

“No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped,” Iran posted on social media.