India, March 24 -- US President Donald Trump appeared to place responsibility for the decision to launch military strikes against Iran on his defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, during a public event in Tennessee, as the conflict entered its fourth week and scrutiny over the war intensified.

Track Live Updates on US-Iran war here

Speaking at a roundtable of the Memphis Safe Task Force on Monday, Trump suggested Hegseth had been the first senior official in his administration to advocate military action against Iran.

"Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up and you said, 'Let's do it because you can't let them have a nuclear weapon,'" Trump said, with Hegseth seated beside him at the event.

The remark has drawn attention in Washi...