وزير الدفاع الأمريكي: قواتنا في أعلى جاهزية وسندافع عن موظفينا بالشرق الأوسط

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that he is closely monitoring developments between Israel and Iran, emphasizing that his country will defend its personnel in the Middle East and is ready with a strong deployment posture.

Hegseth told Fox News that the United States is prepared to defend its personnel deployed in the Middle East amid the rapidly evolving situation in the region, noting that our military readiness in the area is at its highest levels.

The U.S. Defense Secretary expressed hope that Iran would choose negotiation, pointing out that U.S. President Donald Trump continues to clarify that Iran should not seek to acquire nuclear weapons and will not obtain them.

The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) intends to move two destroyers to the eastern Mediterranean, as Iranian strikes on Israel continue after targeting military and nuclear sites across Iran.

U.S. magazine Politico reported, citing officials at the Pentagon who requested anonymity, that the two ships capable of countering ballistic and guided missile attacks were already in the region and were changing their course.

The U.S. move coincided with threats issued by Iranian officials to expand the scope of targets to include U.S. bases in the region.

On another note, EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, warned today of the likelihood of escalating tensions in the Middle East, confirming that they are dangerously high.

Kallas wrote, following a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi today on her account on X: "The EU's position has always been clear: Iran must never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons," adding, "Diplomacy alone is capable of finding a lasting solution, and the EU is ready to support that."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi strongly condemned Israel's actions in violating his country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, attacking nuclear facilities and residential areas, and called for a decisive global response and international condemnation of the Israeli attack on his country.