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Pentagon confirms it is weighing deployment of additional troops to Middle East

Acting US Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan speaks during a meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2019. (AFP photo)

Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has confirmed that the Pentagon is considering deploying additional American troops to the Middle East region, amid escalating tensions with Iran.

"What we're looking at is: Are there things that we can do to enhance force protection in the Middle East?" Shanahan said speaking to reporters outside the Pentagon on Thursday. "It may involve sending additional troops."

However, Shanahan rejected media reports claiming specific numbers of troops were being considered by the Pentagon, saying: "As soon as there's a change, I'll give you an update."

US officials speaking to various media outlets on Wednesday said the White House would decide whether to approve the plan to send about 5,000 troops to the Middle East while some media outlets reported that up to 10,000 could be deployed.

"I got up this morning and read that we were sending 10,000 troops to the Middle East, and then I read more recently that there was 5,0000," Shanahan said. "There is no 10,000 and there is no 5,000.”

US President Donald Trump has resorted to blacklisting the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in the wake of withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and tightening sanctions against Tehran.

Iran has time and again asserted that it is not seeking war but stands ready to defend its interests in the region.

Iran has played down Washington’s belligerent posture, ruling out the possibility of war between the US and Iran.

There were, meanwhile, reports that the US president is using legal loopholes to sell even more arms to Saudi Arabia amid tensions with Iran.

Trump has said he does not want to go to war with Iran, but has also threatened to use military force against the country.

On Sunday, he threatened to destroy Iran if the Islamic Republic attacked its interests.

His most recent tweet appears to be a shift in tone just days after he said he was interested in diplomacy and wanted to avoid war.

“If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!” he tweeted.


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