U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at a roundtable on crime prevention in Memphis, also addressed developments in the Middle East, noting that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was among the first in his administration to support considering military action.
“I called in many of our talented people and said, ‘We need to talk. We have a problem in the Middle East. Iran has been a source of instability for 47 years and is getting close to nuclear capability,’” Trump said.
He added that, during internal discussions, Hegseth had expressed early support for a firm approach toward Iran, emphasizing concerns over its nuclear ambitions.
At the same time, Trump pointed to ongoing diplomatic efforts, saying that recent talks had been “very positive” and suggesting there is a possibility for de-escalation.
“They want peace… they’ve indicated they do not intend to pursue nuclear weapons, but we will see. It has to be implemented,” Trump said, adding that he believes there is “a good chance” for progress.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran that began on February 28. Since then, the U.S. administration has offered multiple explanations for the intervention, most frequently citing concerns over Iran’s potential nuclear threat.
