US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday issued a strong warning to Iran over its support for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, saying the country would face consequences for its actions.
This warning came just as the United States and Iran continue indirect nuclear talks, mediated by Oman.
Hegseth, posting on his social media handle X (formerly Twitter), said the US is fully aware of Iran’s involvement with the Houthis.
He warned that the US sees the lethal support being provided to the Houthis and knows exactly what Iran is doing. He further added that Iran is well aware of what the US military is capable of and will face consequences at a time and place of America’s choosing.
Shortly after, he reshared a message from President Donald Trump that had been posted in March on Truth Social. In that post, Trump had stated that Iran would be held responsible for any attacks carried out by the Houthis.
Iran has previously claimed that the Houthi rebels operate independently. But, the US continues to accuse Tehran of supplying weapons and backing the group.
The Houthis currently control northern Yemen and have been targeting commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea, saying their actions are in support of Palestinians.
Washington and Tehran are trying to find common ground through diplomatic talks. So far, both sides have held three rounds of indirect discussions through Oman.
These talks aim to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and in return, consider easing the heavy US sanctions imposed on Iran. The next round of discussions is set to take place in Rome on Saturday.
Despite ongoing talks, disagreements between the two countries still remain unresolved.
On the military front, the US has intensified its operations in the Middle East in recent months. Since March, American forces have launched strikes on over 1,000 targets linked to the Houthis.
The Pentagon has deployed six B-2 stealth bombers to Diego Garcia, a strategically located island in the Indian Ocean. Defense experts believe this location gives the US an ideal operational advantage in the Middle East.
The US now has two aircraft carriers stationed in the region. The Pentagon has also moved air defense systems from Asia to the Middle East.
The dispute over Iran’s nuclear ambitions has been ongoing for over two decades with no resolution. In a recent interview with Time magazine, Trump said, “I think we’re going to make a deal with Iran,” but also warned that military action is still on the table if talks fail.
Reference: Reuters
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