The Pentagon is sending thousands of additional troops to the Middle East in the coming days as President Donald Trump tries to force Iran to reach a deal that could end the weeks-long conflict there, also considering the possibility of additional strikes or ground operations if a fragile ceasefire does not hold, US officials said.
The forces being moved to the region include about 6,000 troops aboard the aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush and several warships accompanying it, said current and former officials, who, like some others, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the military movements.
About 4,200 more with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and its Marine unit, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are expected to arrive by the end of the month.
This military buildup is likely to combine with warships already in the Middle East just as a two-week ceasefire is set to expire on April 22 — and as the U.S. military enforces a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The personnel will join about 50,000 troops the Pentagon has said are engaged globally in operations to counter Iran.
The arrival of additional US ships will increase pressure on Iran and give Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, and other military leaders more options if negotiations with Tehran fail, said James Foggo.
“The more assets you have available, the more variety of options you have,” Foggo said, calling the deployment of additional forces “backup capacity, in case things get worse.”
White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday that it is “clearly in Iran’s best interest to meet the president’s demands,” which include ending its nuclear program and lifting restrictions on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow passage is vital for transporting Middle Eastern oil through the Persian Gulf. Its closure has rattled the global economy and sent energy prices, including fuel, soaring.
Pakistani mediators are pushing for an extension of the ceasefire to give the US and Iran more time to overcome their differences and return to the negotiating table, according to a Pakistani official.
Talks between the two sides are continuing, Leavitt said, and there is a possibility that officials from Washington and Tehran will meet again in Islamabad, the site of last weekend's summit, in the coming days.
“We feel good about the prospect of an agreement,” she said.
The president told Fox Business in an interview aired Wednesday morning that he thinks the war with Iran could end “very quickly” and expects oil prices to fall to pre-war levels by the midterm elections, “provided” that the U.S. stops Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. “When that is resolved, oil prices will come down significantly,” he said.
Investors reacted mostly positively to Trump's comments. Despite higher energy costs and forecasts of slower economic growth, many are betting that a deal to end the conflict is imminent. The S&P 500 rose about 0.75% on Wednesday afternoon, hitting a record high. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose more than 1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell slightly.
Meanwhile, Tehran escalated threats to block international trade, with military commander Ali Abdollahi saying Iran would block imports and exports from the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Red Sea in response to the US blockade. “Iran will take strong action to protect its sovereignty and national interests,” he said.
Trump, in an effort to put economic pressure on Tehran, announced a military blockade of shipping traffic going in and out of Iranian ports on Sunday. More than a dozen Navy warships have been positioned in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, confronting ships coming out of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. military officials said no ships had passed through during the first 48 hours of the blockade and that nine ships had obeyed orders to turn back to Iranian ports.
A radio broadcast posted online on Wednesday appeared to show a member of the US military warning ships in the region: “Do not attempt to breach the blockade. Vessels will be subject to arrest and seizure if moving to or from an Iranian port. Turn back or prepare for inspection.”
This week, the administration also announced additional economic sanctions, warning countries whose financial institutions hold Iranian assets that they will face secondary sanctions if they do not “immediately cease this activity.” The notice was sent to the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Hong Kong and China.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that China buys up to 90% of Iran's oil and that two Chinese banks have received warnings of possible sanctions if their involvement is proven.
The arrival of additional US forces will give commanders three aircraft carriers, each with dozens of fighter jets. The USS Abraham Lincoln has been in the region since January, while the USS Gerald R. Ford arrived in the eastern Mediterranean in February.
The USS George HW Bush was near the Cape of Good Hope, near South Africa, and is expected to follow an unusual route around the continent towards the Middle East.
The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group departed Hawaii last week and is expected to arrive within weeks. The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit includes an infantry battalion of over 800 troops, as well as helicopters and amphibious assault vehicles.
A former senior defense official said that U.S. forces enforcing the blockade are searching for ships suspected of supporting Iran. Armed boat control teams from the Navy SEALs, Marine Corps or Coast Guard are trained to take control of vessels, regardless of whether the crew cooperates or not.
However, controlling the ships is a very dangerous mission. American personnel face the risk of resistance from the crews or attacks by Iranian forces using drones or fast naval vessels.
Trump has acknowledged the risks, warning that any approaching ship could be "immediately eliminated."
As the blockade continues, military officials are planning another potential escalation: US ground operations on Iranian territory. Scenarios include special missions to retrieve nuclear materials, landing Marines to defend the strait, or seizing control of Kharg Island, writes Washington Post.
These operations would be far more dangerous than enforcing the blockade, warned Mick Mulroy.
“It will not be without consequences,” he said. “There are very likely to be casualties.”
