Pentagon Considers Boosting Mideast Force to Over 17,000 Troops
The Pentagon is considering a deployment of 10,000 additional ground troops to the Middle East, a move that would bring the total U.S. force on Iran's doorstep to more than 17,000. This potential buildup, which would supplement the roughly 5,000 Marines and 2,000 paratroopers already ordered to the region, is designed to provide President Trump with military options and added leverage as diplomatic talks with Tehran remain stalled.
Iran has rebuffed U.S. overtures for a new agreement, calculating that pressure from its closure of the Strait of Hormuz will force compromise. The American troop buildup signals preparation for more decisive action should diplomacy fail. "President Trump always has all military options at his disposal," stated White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly, reinforcing the administration's stance.
Experts Deem 17,000-Strong Force Insufficient for Invasion
Military analysts caution that a force of 17,000 troops is a fraction of the 150,000 soldiers deployed for the 2003 Iraq invasion and is insufficient to seize and hold strategic Iranian territory for an extended period. Retired Vice Adm. John Miller, a former commander of U.S. naval forces in the Middle East, warned that the longer American forces occupy any location, "you are exposed to greater risk."
Specific missions, such as seizing the Kharg Island oil export hub or securing Iran's 970 pounds of enriched uranium, carry extreme dangers. American troops would face threats from Iranian cruise missiles, drones, and fast attack boats. Mark Montgomery, a retired rear admiral, warned that U.S. forces concentrated on an island would become "sitting ducks."
Iran Offers Conditional Hormuz Passage, Isolating US Shipping
As the U.S. weighs its military options, Iran has notified the United Nations that it will allow "non-hostile vessels" to transit the Strait of Hormuz, provided they coordinate with Iranian authorities. The policy explicitly states that vessels belonging to the U.S., Israel, or other states participating in "aggression" do not qualify for safe passage.
This diplomatic maneuver comes after the regional conflict has already choked off shipments through the strait, which account for about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supply. By offering selective access, Tehran aims to apply direct pressure on the White House while potentially easing the supply disruption for neutral nations, complicating the international response.
