US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth Cancels Israel Visit After Trump Declares Iran Ceasefire 'Over'

Last Updated:July 08, 2026, 15:23 IST

Pete Hegseth has cancelled his Israel visit amid rising US-Iran tensions. Planned talks with Israeli leaders were expected to focus on Iran and the proposed F-35 sale to Turkey.

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has cancelled his planned visit to Israel as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate, according to reports.

The development comes after US President Donald Trump declared that the ceasefire was “over", raising concerns over the rapidly evolving security situation in the Middle East.

The cancellation comes at a time when Washington and Jerusalem were expected to hold high-level discussions on regional security and Iran.

Reuters reported that Hegseth had been scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz during the visit, with Iran expected to feature prominently in the talks.

The visit was also expected to include discussions on the possible sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey, an issue that has emerged as another point of friction between the United States and Israel.

While the reason behind the cancellation has not been officially stated, it comes amid heightened tensions surrounding the US-Iran situation.

IRAN WAS EXPECTED TO DOMINATE TALKS

According to Reuters, Hegseth’s meetings with Netanyahu and Katz were expected to focus significantly on Iran.

The planned discussions assumed greater importance after Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran to be “over", intensifying concerns over regional stability.

The Pentagon chief’s visit was seen as an opportunity for the two allies to coordinate on security issues amid the changing geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.

Another major issue slated for discussion during Hegseth’s visit was the possible sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.

Reuters reported that the proposal had sparked strong opposition from Israel. In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Netanyahu said he had made his objections clear to Trump.

The Israeli Prime Minister argued that supplying the advanced fifth-generation fighter aircraft to Turkey could alter the military balance in the region.

Trump, who is attending a NATO summit in Turkey, announced on Tuesday that his administration would lift US sanctions imposed on Ankara over its 2019 purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence missile system.

The US President also signalled a willingness to move ahead with the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. However, Reuters noted that such a move is likely to face resistance from both the US Congress and Israeli officials.

About the Author

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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