The Pentagon’s decision to extend its military presence in the Middle East came amid claims that US President Donald Trump is considering the option of ending the war with Iran in private discussions.
Trump may have discussed the option with senior aides. He is also believed to think that intense economic pressure could force Iran to dismantle its nuclear program or suffer economic collapse.
The Economic Exclusion Operation launched by the United States last week targeted Iran’s economic links in the oil, maritime transport, aviation, gold, technology and digital assets sectors.
Despite the claims that Trump is considering an option to end the war, the Pentagon is extending its deployments in the Middle East. The development has been linked to assessments that the conflict could continue into the later months of next year.
The US military has 50,000 troops and 19 warships in the region. These vessels include two aircraft carriers and 13 guided-missile destroyers.
The deployment is intended to provide the president with operational flexibility.