U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday indicated that Washington is not currently planning to deploy ground troops to the Middle East, as the conflict involving Iran approaches its fourth week.
Speaking at the White House during an Oval Office meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Trump responded to questions about a potential military deployment. “I’m not putting troops anywhere,” he said. “If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you. But I’m not putting troops. We will do whatever is necessary.”
His remarks come amid growing speculation about a possible expansion of U.S. military involvement in the region. A Reuters report published a day earlier suggested that the Trump administration was considering sending thousands of additional troops to support ongoing operations, citing a U.S. official and multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The conflict, which began on February 28, has already resulted in casualties, with 13 U.S. service members reported killed following Iranian strikes on American military bases.
Despite the rising tensions, Trump’s comments signal a cautious approach regarding the deployment of ground forces, even as the United States continues to assess its strategic options in the region.
