Panama City: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegeth has said it is up to Iran to decide whether the recent deployment of US B-2-Stealth bomber to a common base in the Indian Ocean is meant as a warning as diplomatic efforts to resolve tension over Tehran’s nuclear program continues.

As many as six B-2 bombers were moved in March to an American-British military base on the Indian Ocean Island Diego Garcia, US officials told Reuters, in the midst of a US bomb campaign in Yemen and rising tension with Iran.

There are only 20 B-2 bomber in the air defense inventory, so they are typically used sparingly.

Experts say that the B-2s, which have stealth technology and can carry the heaviest American bombs and nuclear weapons, are ideally placed to operate in the Middle East.

When asked if the B-2 implementation was meant as a message to Iran, Hegeth replied, “We let them decide.”

“It’s a good asset … It sends a message to everyone,” he told journalists during a visit to Panama.

“President Trump has been ready … Iran shouldn’t have a nuclear bomb,” he said. “We hope a lot – the president is focused on making it peaceful.”

On Monday, Trump gave a surprise message that the United States and Iran should begin direct conversations about Tehran’s nuclear program on Saturday. He warned that Iran would be in “great danger” if the negotiations failed.

Iran, who had resisted Trump’s demands in recent weeks, said indirect conversations would take place in Oman and highlight the gap between the two sides.

On Wednesday, Trump repeated a threat of using military strength if Iran refused to give up his nuclear ambitions.

“I’m not asking for much … but they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told journalists.

He refused to say when any military act could begin.

Although B-2 bomber has previously been used to beat Houthi targets in Yemen, many experts believe to implement the stealth aircraft that is excessive.

However, the B-2 can carry the 30,000 pounds GBU-57 massive ordnance penetrator-a weapon designed to destroy deeply buried targets. Experts believe this could be used to target Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Western powers accuse Iran of secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons by enriching uranium to levels beyond what is needed for civilian energy purposes.

Tehran insists that his nuclear program is clean to generate electricity and other peaceful purposes.