Washington, DC [US], January 30 (ANI): US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered a stark warning to Iran on Thursday (local time) and underscored President Donald Trump's forceful military stance during a Cabinet meeting, as the United States continues to surge warships and air assets across the Middle East in a growing show of force amid rising tensions over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

In outlining the seriousness of the threat posed by Iran, Hegseth cautioned Tehran against pursuing nuclear weapons, asserting that 'they should not pursue nuclear capabilities, and we will be prepared to deliver whatever this president expects of the War Department.'

His comments were part of broader remarks highlighting US military readiness and deterrence in the region.

To illustrate American military capability, the defence chief pointed to the recent capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, describing the operation as unparalleled in scale and execution.

'No other military in the world could have executed the most sophisticated, powerful raid -- not just in American history -- I would say in world history,' Hegseth said.

He added that this feat demonstrated the unique empowerment given to US forces under the current administration: 'No other president would have been willing to empower those warriors that way.'

Hegseth said such high-profile operations are intended to send a clear message about the US resolve globally.

'That sends a message to every capital around the world that when President Trump speaks, he means business,' he added, stating that the War Department is 'reestablishing deterrence' after years of perceived strategic ambiguity.

Turning back to Iran, Hegseth referenced Operation Midnight Hammer, the Trump-ordered series of strikes against Iran's nuclear infrastructure, as evidence of the administration's commitment to preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

'We're having to rebuild how our enemies perceive us,' he said.

'And when President Trump said, 'We're not getting a nuclear Iran -- you won't have a nuclear bomb,' he meant it,' reinforcing the administration's zero-tolerance stance on Tehran's nuclear programme.

Hegseth's remarks coincided with a significant build-up of US naval power in the Middle East, which has fuelled speculation that military action against Iran's government could be imminent.

This military presence has included the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the region, a move President Trump described as part of a 'massive Armada is heading to Iran.'

Speaking on Truth Social about the deployment, Trump said the carrier group 'is ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary,' and warned that 'time is running out' for the Iranian regime to negotiate 'a fair and equitable deal' that would see Iran abandon its ambitions to acquire nuclear weapons, tying the military mobilisation directly to diplomatic pressure on Tehran. (ANI)