US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is breaking with the White House's current conciliatory tone toward Iran, insisting that confrontation with the Islamic Republic remains necessary despite political costs.
In remarks that diverge sharply from recent administration signals, Hegseth said the fight against Iran "was the right thing to do, regardless of the political consequences," and warned: "You cannot let crazy Islamists hold a nuclear bomb."
"Someone has to confront the regime in Iran and strip it of its nuclear capabilities," Hegseth said. "Even if the war was unpopular with the public, it was essential. The president said so himself."
The comments come as the Trump administration has appeared to cool its rhetoric on returning to direct military action against Tehran, raising questions about the gap between the Pentagon chief's position and the broader White House approach.
