US Defense Secretary Urges Iran to Choose the 'Right Path' Amid Tensions

Directly addressing Iran's military leadership, Hegseth emphasized the disparity in military capabilities, stating, "This is not a fight between equals." He claimed that while Iran may be deploying its remaining missiles, it lacks the capacity to replace or rebuild them, whereas the U.S. military is growing stronger and remains ready to strike at a moment's notice.

The Defense Secretary also noted that China has assured the U.S. it will not supply weapons to Iran during the ceasefire. Furthermore, Washington is open to international cooperation to keep the Strait of Hormuz accessible.

On the diplomatic front, Pakistan is actively mediating to bring both nations to the table. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry confirmed that both Washington and Tehran are interested in a second round of peace talks. According to Al Jazeera, the current two-week ceasefire also extends to Lebanon.