US defense secretary warns Iran of tenfold military response

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday warned of a military response "ten times stronger" if Iran continues its attacks on commercial vessels and countries in the region. He said Tehran had squandered all opportunities for a negotiated solution, as tensions between the two sides entered their tenth consecutive day, leading to the suspension of a memorandum of understanding signed last month.

At a White House press conference held alongside US President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Hegseth stated that Iran "missed every opportunity for engagement and dialogue," adding that the US president has multiple options to address the situation.

He added: "If they want to talk, they can talk; otherwise, they will face the US Department of Defense," noting that Iran possesses "a large stockpile of weapons," which he described as a threat requiring a firm response.

The US defense secretary stressed, "If Iran continues its attacks, we will strike back tenfold, day after day and night after night."

This comes amid escalating military confrontation between the United States and Iran. US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced its tenth consecutive night of strikes inside Iranian territory, stating that operations targeted military command centers, naval assets, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems, aiming to undermine Tehran's ability to attack commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

In response, Iran announced new attacks targeting Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, escalating tensions and causing the collapse of the memorandum of understanding signed on June 17, which had called for negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and other issues in an effort to end the conflict.