US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the agreement between the US and Iran is the result of their strength, that there is no relationship of trust between the parties, and that every step depends on implementation.
elchi reports that Hegseth made a statement to the press on the tarmac after the NATO Defense Ministers Meeting in Brussels.
Hegseth stated that what distinguishes this agreement from previous ones is that it was implemented thanks to concrete actions demonstrated by American power, whereas the previous Iran nuclear deal was the result of “constant requests and negotiations.”
Hegseth said: “This agreement was reached after months of bombing and an insurmountable blockade. Iran was brought to a situation where it had to sit at the table and accept this.”
Emphasizing that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons, Hegseth said: “It cannot possess other types of weapons either, everyone knows this. Therefore, our military activities and the negotiations to be conducted will be formed around this goal.”
“We are ready to take action again”
Hegseth continued:
“The President has stated that if Iran does not fulfill its promises in the negotiation process, we are ready to take action again. Iran must renounce nuclear weapons, abandon its nuclear ambitions, give up nuclear materials, and close its nuclear facilities. If it does not do this, the Department of Defense is ready to do what is necessary and resume operations. We prefer a diplomatic solution, but we are also ready to take action if necessary.”
Hegseth stated that they will withdraw when the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is completely lifted and trade is allowed to flow again, but a significant portion of the military bases that have been in the region for years will remain as they are.
Hegseth stated that the US will evaluate how many soldiers it needs in the region and make adjustments accordingly, adding: “However, we will be the deterrent force behind the negotiations. Such an element of power did not exist during the time of President (Barack) Obama. Everything depends on performance. This is not a ‘trust and verify’ approach like the agreements during the Obama era. There is no trust here. Everything we do will be based on verification, verification, and verification again.” Hegseth stated that every step will be taken based on performance and emphasized that there will be no concessions.
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