The Pentagon has recently stepped up its forces in the Middle East. The US deployments in the region include an aircraft carrier strike group, Patriot missiles, B-52 bombers, and F-15 fighters, according to the US Defence Department.
The United States is preparing to send additional forces to the Middle East in response to mounting concerns over Iran, which Washington blames for last week attacks on two oil tankers, Reuters reported Monday, citing two US officials on condition of anonymity.
The officials did not say how many troops would be deployed or detail the timing of the new deployment, which has not been previously reported, according to Reuters.
On Thursday, two oil tankers – Kokuka Courageous and Front Altair – were reportedly attacked in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz. While the causes of the incident remain unknown, the United States claimed that Iran allegedly sabotaged the vessels.
In the wake of the attack, US President Donald Trump ordered the warship Mason to be dispatched to the area, adding to the United States’ already significant military presence in the region.
Relations between Iran and the United States deteriorated after Trump, an avid opponent of the Iranian nuclear deal, pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in May 2018. The decision has been criticized by other signatories of the nuclear deal, namely China, France, Germany, Iran, the European Union, Russia and the United Kingdom.
The United States later unveiled rounds of sanctions against Iran, targeting its economic, financial and transportation sectors, among others. The situation worsened when Iran announced on 8 May that it had partially discontinued its commitments under the agreement and gave Europe two months to ensure Iran’s interests were protected under the deal.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Tehran would not negotiate with the United States. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, however, has not ruled out the possibility of negotiations with the United States if Washington lifts sanctions from Tehran and abandons the policy of oppressing Iran.
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