Pete Hegseth Launches Thinly-Veiled Attack On UK Over Iran 'Hand-Wringing'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a press briefing at the Pentagon, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Washington. 

American defence secretary Pete Hegseth has attacked America’s “traditional allies” for “hemming and hawing about the use of force” amid the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Israel and the US launched “pre-emptive” strikes to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons on Saturday.

Hegseth’s comments appeared to be a thinly-veiled swipe at Keir Starmer, who initially refused to let America use UK bases to launch their attacks.