The Trump administration is reportedly evaluating sending additional U.S. troops to the Middle East, potentially to safeguard oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and counter Iran's actions. The potential deployment follows weeks of escalating tensions and disruptions in global oil supply.
The Trump administration is reportedly considering sending thousands more U.S. troops to the Middle East as the U.S. and Israel continue its war against Iran , according to Reuters. A U.S. official and three other sources confirmed the news as the war nears the end of its third week with no end in sight.
Here’s what we know: LIVE UPDATES: Global fuel prices spike as Iran targets Gulf refineriesThe additional troops could be sent to help oil tankers move safely through the Strait of Hormuz, where roughly 20% of the world’s oil production passes daily, Reuters reports. Iran has stopped traffic on the critical waterway, leading to disruptions in oil production and a major spike in gas prices. Commercial ships carrying critical cargo like pharmaceuticals and computer chips are also stalled in the region.Securing the Strait could mean sending U.S. troops to Iran's shoreline, the same sources said. The Trump administration has also weighed whether to send troops to Iran's Kharg Island, the hub for 90% of Iran's oil exports. It would be a risky operation, officials said, because Iran can hit the island with missiles and drones. RELATED: US military draft 2026? Here's what we know so farA third option is deploying U.S. forces to take control of Iran’s highly enriched uranium. Experts say securing the country’s uranium stockpiles would be extremely risky, even for special forces. It’s unclear how many additional troops may be called up, or when or where they’ll be deployed. The sources told Reuters they don’t believe the U.S. is sending more troops to Iran in the immediate future. The Pentagon declined to comment. "There has been no decision to send ground troops at this time, but President Trump wisely keeps all options at his disposal," a White House official told Reuters. "The president is focused on achieving all of the defined objectives of Operation Epic Fury: destroy Iran's ballistic missile capacity, annihilate their navy, ensure their terrorist proxies cannot destabilize the region, and guarantee that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon."Trump faces big political risks as the war against Iran widens in the Middle East: Recent polling shows the majority of Americans oppose military action against Iran, and even Republicans who support the president say they’d be wary of troops on the ground there. RELATED: Recent polls reveal what Americans think about war in IranThe polls suggest that many Americans are worried the military action is making the U.S. "less safe," even as they see Iran as a threat to U.S. security. They also found a large majority of Americans are worried about the war causing oil and gasoline prices to rise.At least 13 U.S. military members have been killed since the U.S-Israeli attacks started Feb. 28. More than 1,300 people in Iran have been killed, while Israeli strikes have displaced more than 1 million Lebanese — roughly 20% of the population — according to the Lebanese government, which says 968 people have been killed. In Israel, 15 people have been killed by Iranian missile fire.RELATED: Live updates: Global fuel prices spike as Iran targets Gulf refineriesClick here for the latest updates.
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