US War Secretary Pete Hegseth Warns Iran of Kinetic Strikes on Tehran and Strait of Hormuz Targets

On August 25, 2026, US War Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stark warning to Iran, stating that the United States will not rule out kinetic strikes on Tehran if Iran escalates its actions. The warning was reported by WION, which cited Hegseth's remarks as a direct threat to Iranian leadership. Separately, The Jerusalem Post reported that Hegseth also warned Iran that the US could strike targets in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint. The two sources agree on Hegseth's statements but differ in emphasis, with WION focusing on the threat to Tehran and The Jerusalem Post highlighting the potential strikes on the Strait of Hormuz.