Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of War, refused to say that after the arrival of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, the United States would keep several aircraft carriers in the Middle East.

Hegseth, in response to a question from reporters in Colorado Springs about whether Theodore Roosevelt would replace one of the two current U.S. aircraft carriers in the Middle East or join them, said: “That’s a good question, but I’m not going to answer it.”

He added: “All I can say is that my job is to provide the commander-in-chief with the widest range of possible options.”

Asked about the possibility of reaching a military solution in a conflict with the Islamic Republic, Hegseth also said that the issue “can be resolved in different ways.”

Reports earlier indicated that the Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier would be sent on a long mission to the Middle East and was expected to replace the George Washington carrier.

Hegseth’s latest remarks came at a time when he said on Saturday, Mehr 11, that if the Islamic Republic does not make the “right choice,” Donald Trump, the president of the United States, will have all the necessary options regarding Iran on the table.