Hegseth: We Would Much Prefer Iran Give Up Their Pursuit of a Nuclear Weapon Through Talks

EXCERPT:

Hegseth: “We know the double talk of the ayatollah. You know it, you lay it out, I understand it. There had been secret, duplicitous moves for years and years and years, but we are at a moment under this administration where President Trump is giving him an offer. He is saying, ‘Now is your chance to come to the table and completely give up and dismantle your program. Let’s talk. I would prefer to talk rather than do anything else.’ At the same time, he’s ensuring that at the Defense Department and across our military, we maintain all capabilities necessary to work with our partners to, if we have to — we don’t want to, but if we have to — prevent Iran from gaining nuclear capabilities. So he is clear. The position is clear. Iran understands her options. There’s never been a more serious leader atop the United States of America. There’s a very serious leader atop the state of Israel. There’s a clear message that Iran cannot get a nuclear bomb and we are prepared to enforce it. But we would much prefer that it be done at the table for the betterment of the Iranian people and for the betterment of peace. So, we hope that’s a possibility, but we understand the complications.”