U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that Donald Trump, the U.S. president, has provided the Islamic Republic with multiple opportunities, but U.S. attacks and the continuation of the blockade have made Tehran’s options more limited.

Hegseth added that the economy, industrial and defense infrastructure, and the Islamic Republic’s ability to rebuild have been severely damaged, and the more the effects of the blockade are felt, the fewer Tehran’s options will be. He emphasized that the Islamic Republic will never reach nuclear weapons, and Washington will make the necessary decisions to ensure this.