U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Saturday that the United States is prepared to restart military strikes against Iran if a diplomatic deal is not reached [1].
This escalation follows an Iranian strike on Kuwait that injured five Americans [4]. The warning signals a shift toward military readiness as the U.S. seeks to pressure Iran over its nuclear program amid a breakdown in peace negotiations [4, 5].
Hegseth said at the Shangri‑La Dialogue security forum in Singapore on May 30, 2026 [1, 3]. He said that the U.S. military possesses the necessary resources to engage in conflict if diplomatic efforts fail. "Our ability to recommence if necessary … we are more than capable," Hegseth said [1].
The Secretary of Defense said that the U.S. maintains an ample supply of munitions for such an operation. "The United States has more than sufficient stockpiles of weapons," Hegseth said [2].
The rhetoric comes as both nations remain deadlocked over the terms of a peace agreement. Iran has affirmed that a final agreement with the U.S. has not yet been reached [5]. The lack of a finalized deal, combined with the recent casualties in Kuwait, has increased the risk of direct military confrontation in the region.
U.S. officials have indicated that the current posture is intended to ensure that Iran understands the consequences of further aggression. The administration continues to push for a deal that would constrain Iran's nuclear capabilities, a primary goal of the ongoing diplomatic pressure campaign [4, 5].
“"Our ability to recommence if necessary … we are more than capable,"”
The U.S. is employing a 'maximum pressure' strategy by pairing diplomatic negotiations with explicit military threats. By highlighting weapon stockpiles and readiness at a high-profile international forum like the Shangri-La Dialogue, the U.S. is attempting to create leverage to force Iran into a nuclear agreement while responding to the direct provocation of the Kuwait strike.
