The U.S. President is reportedly considering a significant military deployment of an additional 10,000 troops, including infantry and armoured vehicles, amid rising tensions with Iran, according to the Wall Street Journal.
This move is being presented as an option for Donald Trump as he continues to pursue peace talks with Tehran, with the troops likely to be stationed at a U.S. base close to Kharg Island.
Currently, around 5,000 Marines and several thousand paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division are en route to the Middle East.
However, a White House spokeswoman emphasised that no final decision has been made yet.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said: “All announcements regarding troop deployments will come from the Department of War.
“As we have said, President Trump always has all military options at his disposal.”
Trump has extended his pause on strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure by ten days, pushing the deadline to April 6, as he claims negotiations are progressing “very well.”
The President mentioned that this extension was requested by Tehran and cited “very productive conversations” to explain his decision to hold off attacks targeting the Strait of Hormuz, which has been partially blocked since February 28.
This mini-ceasefire represents a delicate balancing act for Washington as it seeks to maintain pressure on Iran while avoiding an escalation that could severely disrupt global energy markets.
Posting on his TruthSocial account, the President said: “As per Iranian Government request, please let this statement serve to represent that I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8 P.M., Eastern Time.
“Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The closure of this shipping channel has caused global oil and gas prices to soar and contributed to the UK’s inflation remaining flat at 3% last month.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that Iran had requested additional time and claimed that the U.S. had received a “very big present” from Tehran, which he described as related to oil and gas rather than nuclear issues.
He said: “They said to me, very nicely, through my people ‘could we have more time?’
“They asked for seven [days]. And I said, ‘I’m going to give you ten’, because they gave me ships.
“You know, we talked about the eight ships. You know, the present that I talked about the other day.”
