An additional 1,500 US troops have been deployed to 'protect the Middle East'.

US President Donald Trump. Photo: AFP

According to AFP, this is the latest increase in the US military presence in the Middle East following its decision in early May to deploy a carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to the region as a deterrent against Iran.

This decision to deploy additional troops also comes amid expectations that the Trump administration will disregard congressional sanctions to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia, a close US ally and Iran's regional rival.

"This is a prudent response to the real threat from Iran," said Patrick Shanahan, acting U.S. Secretary of Defense.

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

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

This latest troop deployment by the Pentagon includes reconnaissance aircraft, fighter jets, and engineers. Pentagon officials said the additional deployment was necessary following threats and several small-scale attacks carried out in May by Iranian forces.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Photo: AFP

In a related development, on May 24, when asked by reporters about his view on Trump's threat last week, "If Iran wants war, that will be their official end," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that it is Iran that "will see the end" of Trump, not the other way around.

The Iranian Foreign Minister argued that Trump had deliberately imposed his political views on Iran through economic sanctions, including those on food and medicine, and that, according to Zarif, this constituted terrorism.

Anadolu News AgencyQuoting Zafif from the Pakistani capital: "Donald Trump is a true terrorist. He is the one who launched economic terrorism against Iran."