The United States is considering deploying about 3,000 elite troops from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East as the conflict involving Iran intensifies.
According to a report by The New York Times citing defence officials, senior Pentagon leaders are weighing plans to send the division’s Immediate Response Force, a combat brigade capable of deploying paratroopers and equipment worldwide within 18 hours.
The troops could support the ongoing US and Israeli military campaign against Iran, now entering its fourth week. Officials said the brigade might be tasked with operations linked to Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal, although no final decision has been taken.
Defence officials cautioned that neither the Pentagon nor US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, has issued deployment orders.
Responding to the report, the Pentagon told The Independent, “Due to operations security, we do not discuss future or hypothetical movements.”
On March 13, President Donald Trump said Central Command had “executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island.”
Trump later wrote on Truth Social that “for reasons of decency,” he had chosen not to “wipe out” the island’s oil infrastructure.
“However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,” the president added.
Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway between Iran and Oman through which roughly one fifth of global oil supply passes, warning it could target vessels attempting to navigate the route.
The US president has called on allied nations to help secure the shipping lane, though initial appeals reportedly received limited support.
Global oil markets have reacted sharply to the conflict. Brent crude briefly rose above $119 per barrel last week, compared with around $70 before US and Israeli strikes began, according to the Associated Press.
Prices later eased, with Brent falling 11 percent to $99.94 per barrel on Monday after Trump announced a five-day pause on planned strikes against Iranian power plants and energy facilities.
Trump also wrote on Truth Social that the United States and Iran had held “very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East” over the weekend.
He added that the postponement of further strikes remained “subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions” with Iranian officials.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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