Washington: In an attempt to strengthen its military presence in the Middle East to counter unpredictable threats from Iran, the US is planning to send an additional 1,500 troops to the region.
Trump speaks on deployment of additional troops to Middle East Speaking to reporters just ahead of his Japan visit, the US President Donald Trump on said,"We want to have protection. We are going to be sending a relatively small number of troops, mostly protective and some very talented, to the Middle East. The number will be about fifteen hundred people."
Trump said, "Iran stages terror all over the world. But I believe Iran does not want to fight."
"They can't have nuclear weapons and they understand that," he added.
According to a notification issued by the Pentagon, the primary responsibility of the additional troops will be to protect the US forces deployed earlier and ensure freedom of navigation.
The silverline is that in the past few days US has been talking of not going to war with Iran, though it has kept the pressures on. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Acting Secretary of Defense Shanan and Trump too have said that Iran is a dangerous country, and that they must be full prepared to counter and take severe actions against Iran if there is any misadventure on its part. But at the same time, as if to balance the threats out, they have said very clearly that the US is not planning any war.
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The Pentagon has already deployed USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, B52 bomber to the Persian Gulf.
Moreover, the Trump administration has already asked non-emergency embassy staff in Iraq to leave the country which shares border with Iran.
