The United States is reportedly considering sending up to 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East, as speculation grows that Washington may be preparing for a ground operation against Iran.
The move marks a significant increase in the US military presence in the region, even as President Donald Trump insists that peace talks with Tehran are still ongoing to end the conflict.
A report from The Wall Street Journal stated that the deployment is intended to give Washington more military options in the conflict that has escalated since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.
The additional troops are expected to join thousands of existing troops, including paratroopers and Marines, who have been deployed earlier in the region.
In a related development, Iran warned that any ground attack by the US would be responded to with more aggressive action, including activating the Houthi group in Yemen to attack shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
This situation has the potential to open up new areas of conflict that could have a major impact on the global economy, especially the energy supply chain and international trade.
However, Trump has repeatedly stressed that he does not plan to launch ground operations, thus reflecting the contradiction between the diplomatic approach and the US military preparedness.
The military deployment is expected to be within strategic proximity to Iran, including the area around Kharg Island, which is the country's main oil export hub.
At the same time, the Pentagon has yet to provide any official confirmation regarding the report.
Trump also postponed the deadline for attacks on Iranian energy assets, while hinting that negotiations are progressing well and could potentially produce a solution in the near future.
In other developments, Israel has reportedly launched a large-scale attack targeting critical infrastructure in Tehran, adding further pressure to the increasingly tense geopolitical situation in the region.
