US Warns Iran Amid Ceasefire Tensions: 'Locked and Loaded'

Amid a fragile ceasefire and stalled peace negotiations, the United States has delivered a stark message to Iran: make the right choice, or face devastating consequences. On Thursday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, flanked by top military leaders, declared that American forces are fully prepared to escalate military operations if Iran rejects a potential peace deal. The statement comes just days after high-level negotiations between Washington and Tehran failed to yield an agreement. These