THE US HAS warned it is “more than capable” of resuming war with Iran after president Donald Trump said any peace deal must adhere to his red lines, including Tehran never being able to develop nuclear weapons.
Trump held a meeting with his advisers on Friday but has not yet made a decision on whether to move forward with a deal to extend the Iran ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said the agreement has not been finalised.
Ahead of the meeting, Trump said he was looking to make a “final determination”.
Meanwhile, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, said Washington could restart the war if it wanted.
“Our ability to recommence if necessary is we are more than capable, our stockpiles are more than suited for that, both there and around the globe because of how we balance exquisite and more plentiful munitions,” he said.
That echoed the US Central Command, which posted on X that American forces “remain present and vigilant across the region.”
The efforts to strike a deal mediated by Pakistan, were thrown into question this week by US strikes on the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, countered by retaliatory fire from Iran.
Nevertheless, diplomacy continued, including in a parallel process to stop fighting in Lebanon, which Iran has insisted be included in any formal end to the war, and where Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israeli forces had advanced further even as military delegations from both nations met at the Pentagon in Washington.
Trump’s priorities in any deal included Iran agreeing to never develop nuclear weapons and the reopening of the blockaded Strait of Hormuz maritime route, he said in a social media post in which he also announced the Situation Room meeting.
“President Trump will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his red lines,” a White House official said after the meeting.
“Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon,” the official added.
With additional reporting from AFP and PA.