US set to send airborne troops to Middle East as Trump claims talks with Iran taking place
US set to send airborne troops to Middle East as Trump claims talks with Iran taking place
The United States is preparing to send paratroopers to the Middle East amid escalating regional violence. On Tuesday, as attacks across the area surged, Donald Trump asserted that the nation was engaged in “very good” discussions with Iran to halt the ongoing conflict. Iranian forces targeted Israel, Gulf Arab nations, and northern Iraq with missile strikes, while Israeli and American airpower continued operations against Tehran and other locations in the Islamic Republic.
Israel hinted at plans to extend its control into southern Lebanon, a move described by a Hezbollah representative as an “existential threat” to the country. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that the US could dispatch 3,000 troops from the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division, capable of rapid global deployment within 24 hours. These forces would join US marines already en route to the Gulf, where Trump might order them to seize strategic positions in the Strait of Hormuz or disrupt Iran’s oil infrastructure on Kharg Island.
Strategic Deployment and Diplomatic Hopes
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed that the war would persist “unabated,” yet noted the possibility of diplomacy. In the Oval Office, Trump offered no specifics on the negotiations but declared, “they’re going to make a deal.” He claimed Iran had presented a “very specific prize” concerning oil and gas transit through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a “very big present worth a significant amount of money.”
“Their nature is to sow discord so that they can make people distrust officials and believe that such actions have taken place, whereas no such action has occurred.”
According to the semi-official Fars news agency, Esmail Kowsari, a member of Iran’s parliamentary security committee, criticized the US for creating false perceptions. Trump also mentioned that Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and envoy Jared Kushner were involved in the process.
Despite the mounting casualties and economic strain from the US-Israeli campaign, Iran has yet to confirm the talks. The country’s UN ambassador reported 1,348 civilian deaths since the war began. Tehran’s officials have stated they are not currently in dialogue, citing past negotiations that preceded the surprise assault that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and many senior figures. Similar discussions occurred last year when the US and Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Diplomatic Channels and Regional Involvement
However, intermediaries such as Pakistan, Oman, Egypt, and others have acknowledged initial efforts to open communication lines between Washington and Tehran. A European official told Reuters that direct talks had not occurred, but regional allies were passing messages. Trump shared a proposal from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to host US-Iran discussions in Islamabad on his Truth Social platform.
The recent activity followed threats exchanged between the US and Iran over the weekend, with potential strikes targeting Iran’s electricity grid and desalination plants. On Monday, Trump postponed a deadline for Iran to allow shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, temporarily lowering oil prices and raising stock markets. The new deadline will expire on Friday.
The New York Times reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had been quietly urging Trump to escalate pressure on Iran, signaling a broader regional interest in shaping the conflict’s outcome.