India, Nov. 6 -- US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has dismissed renewed calls for his impeachment as "political theatre", but criticism of his handling of the Iran war predates the Republican Party's November 3 midterm losses.

For months, the Pentagon chief has faced bipartisan questions over the military campaign, its rising costs and the administration's strategy for ending the conflict. Reports have also indicated that Hegseth pushed for the war while others in Trump's cabinet like Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio leaned towards negotiations with Iran.

Hegseth's video message, on November 5, came after Republican Congressman ThomasMassie threatened to reintroduce articles of impeachment against him. Hegseth,...