A "firm" American message to Iran: A deal or a return to attacks

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States is prepared to resume attacks on Iran if an agreement cannot be reached, as negotiators from Washington and Tehran work to overcome the main obstacles hindering a deal.

Hegseth said in Singapore: "Our ability to resume attacks if necessary... we are more than capable of doing so."

He added: "Our stockpiles are more than sufficient for that, whether there or around the world, so we are in a very good position."

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue meetings, Asia’s leading forum for defense leaders and senior military and diplomatic officials, Hegseth said the United States has not turned its back on the Asia-Pacific region despite its involvement in a conflict with Iran.

He said: "We can do two things at once. We are significantly strengthening our defense industrial base so that we will produce double, triple, or four times the ammunition in the near term to ensure all our operational plans are properly funded around the world."

The defense secretary said U.S. President Donald Trump is "patient" and wants to strike a "big deal" that ensures Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.