In questioning before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hegseth said “maximum force protection" was being provided for U.S. troops in the Middle East and that it is Trump’s decision whether to provide Israel a "bunker buster" bomb to strike at the core of Iran's nuclear program, which would require U.S. pilots flying a B-2 stealth bomber. He would not indicate what the U.S. may do next.
Israel has struck multiple Iranian nuclear facilities in the last several days but one of its key uranium production sites, Fordo, requires the deep penetrating munition.
Trump would not say Wednesday whether he has decided to order a U.S. strike on Iran, a move that Tehran warned anew would be greeted with stiff retaliation if it happens.
“I may do it, I may not do it,” Trump said in an exchange with reporters at the White House. “I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do.”
Trump added that it’s not “too late” for Iran to give up its nuclear program as he continues to weigh direct U.S. involvement in Israel’s military operations aimed at crushing Tehran's nuclear program.
Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier Wednesday warned that the United States that strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will “result in irreparable damage for them” and that his country would not heed to Trump’s call for Iran to back down.
“I say good luck,” Trump said when asked about the supreme leader’s refusal to surrender.
Hegseth said the U.S. military was readying options for Trump.
“They should have made a deal. President Trump’s word means something -- the world understands that. And at the Defense Department, our job is to stand ready and prepared with options. And that’s precisely what we’re doing,” Hegseth said.
The U.S. has shifted significant numbers of refueling tanker and fighter aircraft to position them to be able to respond to the escalating conflict, such as supporting possible evacuations, or airstrikes. Hegseth said this week that was done to protect U.S. personnel and airbases.
