Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies Wednesday, June 18, 2025, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is sitting to his right. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday declined to say whether the U.S. is considering joining Israel’s bombing campaign against Iran’s nuclear program but acknowledged the Pentagon was providing possible military options to President Donald Trump.
Hegseth said Trump will decide whether the U.S. will provide a 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bomb that is capable of reaching Fordo, Iran’s most heavily fortified nuclear site. The Defense Department is prepared to execute the president’s decision once it is made, Hegseth said.
“My job — our job, the chairman and I — at all times is to make sure the president has options and is informed of what those options might be and what the ramifications of those options might be,” he told the Senate Armed Services Committee, testifying alongside Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Trump indicated to reporters on Wednesday that his mind is not made up.
“I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do,” he said.
Only the American B-2 stealth bomber can carry the bunker buster, meaning the pilot will be a U.S. service member.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has warned any U.S. military invention will “undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage.” Other Iranian officials have said Iran would attack U.S. bases in the Middle East, beginning with Iraq, if the U.S. joined Israel’s fight.
About 40,000 U.S. troops are deployed to the Middle East. Commanders have put troops on high alert throughout the region, including in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and Hegseth said Wednesday that “maximum force protection” is being provided for them.
The Defense Department has so far sent dozens of refueling aircraft to Europe to position them to respond to the conflict and the Navy has dispatched the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to the Middle East from the Pacific.
Hegseth said deterrence is being reestablished after it was “lost” under the administration of former President Joe Biden.
“We know right now that Tehran understands exactly what the president is saying. They had an opportunity to make a deal,” Hegseth said, referring to negotiations to curb Iran’s nuclear program. “They should have made a deal. President Trump’s word means something — the world understands that.”
The escalating hostilities in the Middle East have prompted some lawmakers in recent days to reassert Congress’ power to declare war.
A Democrat in the Senate and a Democrat — Rep. Ro Khanna of California — and a Republican — Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky — in the House introduced resolutions on Monday and Tuesday that would require congressional approval before U.S. troops could engage in offensive attacks against Iran.
Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, the sponsor of the Senate resolution, on Tuesday said the American public was owed a public discussion and vote by Congress on whether the U.S. should be in another war in the Middle East.
“Before we’re going to send troops in harm’s way in war, we want to see the people’s elected bodies – both houses – have a debate about what the stakes are and whether we should force our troops into harm’s way and potentially lose their lives,” he said.
Some Republican senators on Wednesday voiced support for Israel’s actions against Iran.
“Iran’s military and leadership is in complete disarray right now because of the bold actions by Israel,” said Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska.
A small group of protesters, however, implored Hegseth to keep the U.S. out of a war with Iran as he walked into the Senate hearing. He did not respond.
