By World Israel News Staff

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that American forces are prepared to restart combat operations against Iran if diplomacy fails, as the Trump administration tries to pressure Tehran into accepting a deal while keeping military forces on alert across the region.

Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth said Washington still preferred a negotiated outcome and held out the prospect of “a prosperous future” for Iran if it agrees to terms demanded by the United States.

But he warned that if Tehran refuses, US forces are ready to return to military action.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine also said the US military could launch major combat operations on short notice.

The warning came as the United States continued enforcing a naval blockade aimed at tightening economic pressure on Iran.

US naval forces have been ordered to intercept Iranian-flagged vessels and ships supporting Iran, with authority to use force if the blockade is challenged. Reuters said 13 ships had already turned back and no vessels had yet been boarded.

The military threat is unfolding alongside a fragile diplomatic track, with hopes for a settlement rising after Pakistan stepped in as a mediator, but major gaps remain over Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran has proposed a suspension of nuclear activity for three to five years, while the United States is reportedly demanding a 20-year halt and the removal of enriched uranium.

Pakistan is now working to organize another round of talks after initial negotiations in Islamabad failed to produce a breakthrough.

The White House said this week it had not sought an extension of the current ceasefire but that discussions about a second round of talks were continuing and that officials felt positive about the prospects for a deal.

Turkey also publicly backed renewed talks on Thursday, urging Washington and Tehran to pursue a “constructive” path toward ending the war. Reuters reported that Ankara has been in close contact with the United States, Iran and Pakistan, and said regional foreign ministers would discuss the issue on the sidelines of a diplomacy forum in Antalya.

Even as diplomacy continues, political pressure is mounting in Washington over Trump’s war powers. On Wednesday, Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic-led effort to restrict the president’s ability to continue military operations against Iran without congressional authorization, reflecting how deeply divided the US remains over the conflict.