Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The US kept the threat of renewed military action against Iran on the table on Saturday, with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reiterating that Washington is prepared to launch fresh strikes if ongoing negotiations fail. The warning came as efforts to secure a peace agreement remain stalled, highlighting the difficulties Washington faces in achieving a diplomatic breakthrough despite months of pressure on Tehran.
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Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth said Washington retained the capability to resume military operations if necessary, even as it pursued a diplomatic solution.
“Our ability to recommence if necessary… we are more than capable,” Hegseth said, adding that US military stockpiles were sufficient to sustain operations both in the region and globally.
The warning comes as negotiators from Washington and Tehran attempt to resolve key differences over a proposed deal that would extend an early-April truce by another 60 days and pave the way for a permanent settlement. US President Donald Trump said on Friday he would make a “final determination” on the proposal during a secure White House meeting.
Hegseth stressed that Trump remained committed to securing what he described as a “great deal” that would ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. He also rejected suggestions that the conflict had distracted Washington from the Asia-Pacific region, saying the US could manage multiple security challenges simultaneously.
The latest round of diplomacy follows a devastating conflict launched by the US and Israel on February 28. The war has killed thousands, primarily in Iran and Lebanon, and disrupted global energy markets after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies pass.
However, signs of progress toward a deal remain clouded by conflicting narratives from Washington and Tehran.
After Trump on Friday suggested that a deal was close and claimed Iran was obligated to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without imposing fees, Iranian media linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) pushed back strongly, accusing the US president of misrepresenting the terms under discussion.
Iran’s Fars News Agency quoted senior officials as saying Trump’s remarks amounted to an attempt to project a “fabricated victory”. According to the report, a draft agreement described as “commitment for commitment” is in the final stages of review in Tehran, though no final approval has been granted.
Trump had claimed that restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz were effectively ending and that vessels stranded by what he called an “unprecedented naval blockade” would soon be able to return home. He also asserted that Iran would remove remaining naval mines and suggested that several key issues had already been settled. Tehran, however, rejected such claims.
Reports in Iranian media said Tehran had not agreed to reopen the strategic waterway without conditions and that any reopening would take place under Iranian supervision. Proposed arrangements could include ship inspections, monitoring mechanisms, maritime services and security measures.
Tehran also denied Trump’s assertion that it had agreed to dismantle or destroy nuclear material, insisting that no such provision exists in the draft memorandum currently under discussion.
According to Iranian reports, the release of USD 12 billion in frozen Iranian assets remains a central demand in the negotiations. Tehran is said to be insisting on immediate access to the funds before moving to subsequent phases of the agreement. Another unresolved issue is a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon, a demand closely aligned with the position of Hezbollah.
– Ends
(with inputs from Reuters)
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
