US defense chief: No apology for Iran actions, sanctions working

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington will not apologize for its actions in Iran, adding that sanctions against Tehran are achieving their objectives.

Hegseth added that the US is monitoring all Iranian operations and is prepared to respond. He stated that, if given the chance to decide again, the US would still choose to strike Iran, according to Al Arabiya.

He further stated that US military operations are legal, emphasizing that the US did not start the conflict with Iran, but that Iran initiated hostilities 47 years ago. Hegseth said he takes full responsibility for US military actions and stands by them, describing congressional inquiries as a "political spectacle."

The defense secretary also said that punishing US service members for carrying out legal military operations is possible, but called congressional efforts to remove him a farce.