10,000 more US troops, carrier deployed: Is Iran war escalating?

As the Iran war enters its eighth month, America is sending a strike force with a third aircraft carrier near Iran. A US official said several thousand more American troops are also heading to the region. The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group left San Diego last week. Soon after, the Makin Island Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) set out with 2,000 Marines.

The Wall Street Journal reported that 9,000 to 10,000 troops may join this deployment. The official, who did not want to be named, said three aircraft carriers and two amphibious landing groups will be near Iran by the end of November. With F-35 fighter jets included, the number of US troops in the region will reach 50,000. The deployment comes before the November midterm elections, and the Iran war is unpopular in America.

US Defense Secretary Mr. Pete Hegseth said the forces are ready to carry out any new attack if Mr. Donald Trump orders it. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the US has bases at 19 sites, including Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. America plans to run the war from these bases.

Analysts and military flight tracking data show that the US has deployed more than 120 aircraft to the region since early February. This is the biggest US air deployment there since the 2003 Iraq war. In a recent interview with Time, US President Mr. Donald Trump said he may increase the bombing of Iran after the midterm elections.

Analysts said this troop deployment could also be a bargaining tactic. Iran had offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days. In return, it asked for the lifting of sanctions, the release of seized assets and a guarantee that attacks will stop. Mr. Trump said he rejected the ceasefire offer because it included items he would not have approved a year ago and will not approve now.

Washington has added economic pressure to its show of force. It has imposed sanctions on major companies in Iran’s rail and automobile industries. The US Treasury said these steps aim to dry up Tehran’s revenue. Last month, America also announced sanctions on Iran and its trade partners. Indirect peace talks between Washington and Tehran continue through mediators, but they have made no progress.

Last month, Qatar mediated talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz stayed an unresolved and complex issue. Iranian Foreign Minister Mr. Abbas Araghchi later told NBC that Tehran is ready to fight again. A few days ago, late at night, he wrote on X, “We did not come to New York to sell war. We came to build peace.” On the same day, Mr. Trump warned Iran that the conflict will end soon. He threatened harsh consequences if Tehran fails to reach a deal with Washington.