‘No Plans To Accept New Waves Of Refugees’: US Defence Secretary Amid Iran Conflict

Last Updated:March 06, 2026, 09:49 IST

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington won't accept new refugees from West Asia amid rising tensions after US-Israel-Iran missile strikes and Iran's retaliation.

West Asia Conflict: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that Washington has no plans to accept a new wave of refugees from the West Asia as tensions in the region escalate following US-Israel-Iran missile strikes.

While addressing a press conference at US Central Command, Hegseth dismissed concerns about a potential influx of refugees into the United States due to the expanding conflict.

“I think it’s safe to say there’s no plan for a wave of new Middle Eastern refugees to the United States of America," he said.

The US Secretary of War further warned Iran against miscalculating Washington’s resolve, asserting that they are prepared to continue military operations decisively.

“Iran is hoping that we cannot sustain this, which is a really bad miscalculation for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran," he said. “We have only just begun to fight and fight decisively."

His remarks come amid escalating tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 on Iranian territory resulted in the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures, prompting a fierce response from Tehran.

In retaliation, Iran launched waves of drone and missile attacks targeting American military bases across multiple Arab countries as the conflict entered its seventh day on Friday.

The United States has escalated its military campaign against Iran even as Iranian missile and drone attacks have significantly declined.

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said Iranian ballistic missile attacks have dropped by around 90 per cent, while drone attacks have decreased by 83 per cent since the war began.

At the same time, US forces have stepped up their operations against Iran’s naval and missile infrastructure.

News world ‘No Plans To Accept New Waves Of Refugees’: US Defence Secretary Amid Iran Conflict

Read More