U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine attend the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on U.S. President Donald Trump’s supplemental funding request for the Department of Defence.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The United States warned on Saturday (May 30, 2026) that it was “more than capable” of resuming war with Iran after U.S. President Donald Trump said any peace deal must adhere to his red lines, including Tehran never being able to develop nuclear weapons.

Also read | Trump ponders whether to move forward with Iran deal but hasn’t yet decided

The White House had signalled that Mr. Trump was close to a decision on an initial deal after weeks of mixed signals in tenuous negotiations, though Tehran denied there was a final agreement on ending the West Asia conflict that has jolted the global economy.

U.S. sources had told AFP that the deal was waiting on Mr. Trump’s sign-off, but the U. S. President had made no decision after a two-hour meeting in the White House Situation Room on Friday (May 29, 2026) in Washington.

Meanwhile, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, while attending a major Asia defence summit in Singapore, said on Saturday (May 30, 2026) that Washington could restart the war if it wanted.

“Our ability to recommence if necessary is (that) we are more than capable, our stockpiles are more than suited for that, both there and around the globe because of how we balance exquisite and more plentiful munitions,” he said.

That echoed the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which posted on X that American forces “remain present and vigilant across the region.”

The efforts to strike a deal mediated by Pakistan, were thrown into question this week by U.S. strikes on the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, countered by retaliatory fire from Iran.

Nevertheless, diplomacy continued, including in a parallel process to stop fighting in Lebanon, which Iran has insisted be included in any formal end to the war, and where Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israeli forces had advanced further even as military delegations from both nations met at the Pentagon in Washington.

Mr. Trump’s priorities in any deal included Iran agreeing to never develop nuclear weapons and the reopening of the blockaded Strait of Hormuz maritime route, he said in a social media post in which he also announced the Situation Room meeting.

“President Trump will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his red lines,” a White House official told AFP after the meeting.

“Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon,” the official added.

Competing conditions

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei pushed back on Mr. Trump’s conditions, telling state media that the Islamic Republic “said goodbye to the language of ‘must’ 47 years ago.”

Exchanges of messages were continuing, he added, but “no final agreement has been reached yet.”

In a phone call with the Emir of Qatar, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran was ready to achieve a “dignified framework” to end the war, according to state news agency IRNA.

In his post, Mr. Trump said Tehran would remove mines from the Strait of Hormuz and end its closure of the waterway with “no tolls,” while the U.S. would lift its parallel blockade of Iranian ports.

The two countries would also coordinate on removing and destroying Iran’s enriched uranium, he said, adding that “no money will be exchanged, until further notice.”

Iran’s Fars news agency, however, cited sources as saying Tehran was demanding “the immediate release of $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets” before moving to the next phase of negotiations.

On the toll-free reopening of Hormuz, the sources said “no such clause appears in the text of the agreement,” while Mr. Trump’s comment on destroying Iran’s nuclear material “is fundamentally baseless.”

Mr. Ali, a resident of the city of Tonekabon north of Tehran, said there would likely be more strife to come.

“Both sides are speaking in a way that keeps their supporters satisfied. It’s not clear who is telling the truth,” the 49-year-old said.

Fighting in Lebanon

On the war’s other main front in Lebanon, heavy fighting continued.

Mr. Netanyahu announced Friday (May 29, 2026) that Israeli forces had advanced beyond a river that runs around 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of the Lebanon-Israel frontier.

Hezbollah also said its forces launched attacks on northern Israel as well as Israeli troops trying to advance near the medieval Beaufort fortress, also known as Qalaat al-Chakif, a site Israel’s forces had used as a base during their two-decade occupation of southern Lebanon ending in 2000.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was supposed to have taken effect on April 17, but has never been observed with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce.

Lebanon was drawn into the war in early March when Tehran-backed Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel over the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in US-Israeli attacks, prompting Israeli strikes and a ground invasion.

Israel and Lebanon began direct talks in April, with a fourth round expected next week in Washington following the meeting of military delegations from both sides on Friday (May 29, 2026).

Published – May 30, 2026 01:38 pm IST

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on ‌Saturday (May 30, 2026) urged Asian allies to ramp up military spending to counter China’s growing power and prevent its dominance ​in the region, warning of “rightful alarm” over its rapid military buildup.

Also read | India is ‘powerful’ and ‘modernising’ its military, says U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth

Mr. Hegseth, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s ⁠premier forum for defence leaders, militaries, and diplomats, said a stronger, more self-reliant network of allies is essential to deter aggression and preserve the balance of power.

“There is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” he said.

“A Pacific ‌dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power,” Mr. Hegseth said. “No state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.”

The U.S. expects its ‌Asian allies and partners to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP as it pledged a $1.5 trillion investment in its ‌military, ⁠the Pentagon chief said.

Mr. Hegseth stressed that allies want stability, not escalation.

“What they want, and what the United States ⁠delivers, is strength that is disciplined, resolve that is steady, and leadership that is confident enough to speak and walk softly while carrying a big stick.”

Mr. Hegseth also struck a measured tone on U.S.-China ties, saying relations are “better than they have been in many years,” with more frequent military-to-military engagement helping to manage tensions.

“We are meeting ​more frequently with our Chinese counterparts by maintaining open ‌lines of military-to-military communication.”

Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at Tsinghua University and retired People’s Liberation Army senior colonel who was part of the Chinese delegation, described U.S.-China relations as “complicated.”

Nonetheless, he said Mr. Hegseth struck “a much better tone” this year than last, attributing the shift to Mr. Trump’s visit to China.

“Both sides have open channels of communication; the situation is not as exaggerated as the outside ‌world makes it out to be,” Mr. Zhou said.

China, whose Defence Minister is skipping the dialogue for a second consecutive ​year, accused Mr. Hegseth last year of making “vilifying” remarks.

“No freeloading”

Mr. Hegseth echoed U. S. President Donald Trump’s long-standing demand that allies shoulder more of their own defence costs. Mr. Trump has pointedly said that European and NATO partners should reduce reliance on ⁠Washington.

“The era of the United States subsidising the defence of wealthy nations is over,” Mr. Hegseth said. “We need partners, not protectorates,” he added. “We don’t have a strong alliance unless everyone has skin in the game. No freeloading.”

Mr. Hegseth praised contributions from allies, including South Korea, the Philippines, ‌Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, and said that Japan was taking concrete steps to bolster its defences.

Tokyo and Washington “must each pull our weight to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance,” he said.

Ready to restart strikes on Iran

On the West Asia conflict, Mr. Hegseth said that the United States stands ready to resume strikes on Iran if diplomacy fails, as negotiators from Washington and Tehran work to bridge major differences blocking a deal.

“Our ability to recommence if necessary…we are more than capable,” Mr. Hegseth said. He added that Mr. Trump remains “patient” and is seeking a “strong deal” to ensure Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.

Mr. Trump said on Friday (May 29, 2026) he would convene advisers in a secure White House setting to make ‌a “final determination” on a proposal to end the Iran war.

Mr. Hegseth also pushed back on concerns the conflict would distract from Asia-Pacific priorities.

“We can do two ​things at one time.”

Arms sales decision to Taiwan is Mr. Trump’s call

Asked about arms sales to Taiwan, Mr. Hegseth downplayed concerns that a multi-billion-dollar package could be affected as the United States draws down its weapons stockpiles ⁠amid the Middle East conflict. “We feel very good about our stockpiles and how we use them,” he said.

Taiwan, which China views as its ⁠own territory, has been waiting for the U.S. to approve an arms sale that Reuters reported could be worth up to $14 billion.

Mr. Trump sowed uncertainty in Taipei by saying, after meeting China’s President Xi Jinping this month, that he was ‌undecided on whether to approve the package.

Any decision on future arms sales would rest with Mr. Trump, Mr. Hegseth said, signalling no shift in Washington’s longstanding approach despite recent engagement with Beijing.

“Those decisions will depend on the President and the nature of that ​relationship,” Mr. Hegseth said. “There’s been no change in our status.”

Published – May 30, 2026 12:47 pm IST