“Our ability to recommence if necessary…we are more than capable,” Hegseth said in Singapore.

“Our stockpiles are more than ​suited for that, both there and around the globe, ​so we’re in a very good place,” he added.

Hegseth, ⁠speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier forum for defence leaders, ​militaries and diplomats, said the US has not turned its back ​on the Asia-Pacific region despite being engaged in conflict with Iran.

“We can do two things at one time. We’re super-charging our defence industrial base so ​that we’re building 2X, 3X, 4X the munitions very soon ​to ensure that all of our (operations) plans are properly funded throughout the world,” ‌he ⁠said.

The Pentagon chief said President Donald Trump was “patient” and wants to make a “great deal” that ensures Iran does not get a nuclear weapon.

On Friday, Trump said he would meet in a secure ​White House room ​to make a “final ⁠determination” on a proposal to end the Iran war, which would extend an early-April truce for ​another 60 days, giving negotiators time to forge ​a ⁠permanent end to the conflict.

The war launched by the US and Israel on February 28 has killed thousands of people, mainly in ⁠Iran and ​Lebanon, and caused global economic pain ​by pushing up energy prices due to Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of ​Hormuz.