War Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the U.S. military is ready to resume operations against Iran if necessary, following President Donald Trump's signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Versailles, France. Hegseth spoke to reporters in Brussels, indicating that while the MOU aims to end the conflict with Iran, the U.S. is prepared to take action if Iran fails to meet its commitments regarding nuclear disarmament.
Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. would be ready to act if Iran does not comply with the terms of the agreement, which include giving up nuclear weapons and closing nuclear facilities. He mentioned that the War Department is prepared to restart operations if needed, although they prefer to avoid such actions.
He also noted that the department would review its military presence in the Middle East and adjust its forces accordingly, suggesting that U.S. troops would not be withdrawn immediately. Hegseth defended the MOU, contrasting it with former President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal, asserting that the current agreement was established from a position of strength following U.S. military actions.
The MOU states that the U.S. will maintain the current status of its forces in the region without deploying additional troops.