US President Donald Trump has suggested his defence secretary Pete Hegseth was the first to push for military action against Iran, remarks that could intensify scrutiny over how Washington entered the conflict.
Speaking at a Memphis Safe Task Force roundtable in Tennessee, Trump said he consulted senior officials including Hegseth and General Dan Caine after concluding Iran posed a growing threat and was nearing a nuclear weapon capability.
He described a stark choice between maintaining economic momentum and launching a military intervention, saying Hegseth was “the first one to speak up” in favor of action, arguing Iran could not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. Hegseth was seated next to him during the remarks.
The comments stop short of direct blame, but signal a potential effort by Trump to shift part of the responsibility as political pressure builds over the decision to confront Iran militarily.
The war, now stretching into another week, has already raised concerns over escalation in the Middle East, with risks to global energy markets and wider regional stability continuing to grow.