1,500 more US troops deployed to 'protect the Middle East'

US President Donald Trump. Photo: AFP

According to AFP news agency, this is the next step in the US's military presence in the Middle East after the decision in early May to dispatch an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to the region to deter Iran.

The decision to send additional troops also comes as the Trump administration is expected to bypass congressional restrictions to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia, a close US ally and Iran's regional rival.

"This is a prudent response to the real threats from Iran," said Mr. Patrick Shanahan, acting US Secretary of Defense.

US President Donald Trump supported the deployment, calling it "protection." "We want protection in the Middle East," Mr. Trump told reporters as he prepared to depart for a trip to Japan.

"We're going to be sending a relatively small number of troops, primarily for protection," Mr Trump added. "It's only about 1,500 people."

The Pentagon's new troop deployment includes reconnaissance aircraft, fighter jets and engineers. Pentagon officials said the additional troops were needed after threats and small-scale attacks by Iranian forces in May.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Photo: AFP

In another related development, on May 24, when asked by the press about his opinion on the threat "If Iran wants war, that will be the official end of them" made by Mr. Trump last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Iran "will witness the end" of Mr. Trump, not the other way around.

Iran's foreign minister said that Mr. Trump had deliberately imposed his political views on Iran through economic sanctions, including those on food and medicine, so according to Mr. Zarif, that was terrorism.

Anadolu News Agency"Donald Trump is a real terrorist. He is the one who launched economic terrorism against Iran," Zafif said from the Pakistani capital.