Reuters: US Considering Sending Thousands Of Troops To The Middle East

• 19.03.2026, 8:11

The war is entering a new phase.

The Trump administration is considering sending thousands of U.S. troops to bolster its operation in the Middle East. Preparations are now underway for possible next steps against Iran.

This is being reported by Reuters.

The agency writes that the troop deployment could give US President Donald Trump additional options when considering expanding US operations, given that the war with Iran is now in its third week.

The sources said these options include ensuring the safe passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, which would be accomplished mainly with the help of air and naval forces. However, securing the strait could also mean deploying US troops to the Iranian coast.

In addition, Trump has discussed options for sending ground troops to Iran's Kharg Island, which is the center of 90% of Iran's oil exports. But such an operation, a US official says, would be very risky because Iran has the capability to strike the island with missiles and drones.

Besides these options, Trump administration officials have discussed the possibility of deploying US troops to secure Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Sources do not believe the deployment of ground troops anywhere in Iran is imminent, but declined to discuss details of US operational planning. Experts say the task of securing Iran's uranium stockpile would be extremely difficult and risky, even for U.S. special operations forces.

At the same time, a White House spokesman said a decision on sending ground troops has not yet been made, but Trump is "wisely leaving all options open."

"The president is focused on achieving all of the stated objectives of Operation Epic Fury: destroying Iran's ballistic missile capability, exterminating the Iranian navy, securing the