U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell walks to the Senate floor after a vote at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., June 12, 2019. REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday it would be better to have a Senate-confirmed defense secretary than someone serving in just an acting capacity given tensions between the United States and Iran.

McConnell made the comment to reporters shortly after Patrick Shanahan, the acting defense secretary, withdrew from consideration to be the permanent defense chief.