Washington, Oct. 1 (SANA) The United States is sending around 9,000 military personnel aboard a group of warships to the Middle East, including a third aircraft carrier, as President Donald Trump leaves open the possibility of renewed strikes against Iran.
The deployment includes more than 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group and the USS Makin Island amphibious readiness group, a U.S. official told the Associated Press.
The Makin Island group also includes the USS John P. Murtha and USS Anchorage amphibious transport ships.
The deployment could bring three U.S. aircraft carriers into the region by late October. The USS George H.W. Bush and USS George Washington are already operating there, along with the USS Boxer amphibious readiness group.
The additional forces would increase the U.S. naval presence in the Middle East to more than 20,000 sailors and Marines, along with hundreds of aircraft, according to AP.
Trump leaves open possibility of new strikes
Trump said in an interview with Time magazine published Thursday that it was “possible” the United States could intensify its bombing campaign against Iran after the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections.
Asked for details about possible military action, Trump declined to elaborate.
He also said he had rejected Iran’s latest ceasefire proposal, arguing that its terms were “not good enough.”
Trump said Tehran had offered to open the Strait of Hormuz as part of the proposal, but indicated that the broader terms did not meet Washington’s demands.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for global energy shipments and has been at the center of tensions during the conflict.
Washington examines possible Iran link to FlyDubai incident
Trump also said U.S. authorities were investigating whether Iran was linked to Wednesday’s incident aboard an Israel-bound FlyDubai flight, in which a co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft.
Asked at the White House whether investigators had identified a connection with Tehran, Trump said preliminary information suggested there could be one, but added that the matter remained under investigation.
He said Washington would respond if an Iranian connection were established.
The latest military deployment comes as Washington maintains a substantial naval and air presence in the Middle East amid continuing tensions with Tehran.
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