US President Donald Trump has decided to send additional forces to the Middle East — about five thousand American marines, as well as several warships. The request for troop redeployment, which came from the US Central Command, has already been approved by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, writes The Wall Street Journal, citing three American officials.
Donald Trump. Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
According to reports, the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, based in Japan and transporting marines, is already heading to the region, where other US units are already located.
Although Trump previously publicly stated that a ground operation in Iran would be a "waste of time", according to sources, in unofficial conversations he is considering the possibility of a limited presence of American troops in Iran. This is not about a full-scale invasion. A scenario is being considered in which the US could take control of Iran's uranium reserves, and after the war — establish cooperation with Tehran in the oil sector following the example of relations with Venezuela.
The decision to strengthen military presence comes amidst a sharp escalation of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz — a vital maritime route through which about 20% of global oil supplies pass. Iran has intensified attacks on ships in the strait and virtually paralyzed navigation there, leading to a rise in oil prices. Earlier, Trump stated that the US could escort tankers through the strait, and on March 13 even threatened to strike Iran with "very strong blows" within the next week.
Within the American administration, however, there is no full agreement on the goals and duration of the military campaign. According to journalists, Trump himself is inclined to continue the conflict for several more weeks, hoping to weaken the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps enough for an internal uprising to begin in Iran. However, his contradictory statements often confuse even his closest advisors.
Reportedly, there are currently three groups with different positions within Trump's circle:
- "hawks" who demand harsh military actions;
- political advisors who are concerned about rising fuel prices and possible consequences for the elections;
- populists who call for not getting involved in a long and difficult conflict.
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