Pentagon sends 2,000 more troops to Mideast amid Iran diplomacy push

The Pentagon is deploying about 2,000 soldiers from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, bringing total additional U.S. forces sent to the region to nearly 7,000 since fighting began Feb. 28, a Defense Department official confirmed to Yonhap News Agency.

The troop buildup runs parallel to a diplomatic push the Trump administration is quietly conducting with Iran, raising questions about whether Washington is preparing for a longer conflict or seeking an exit — a question with broad economic consequences as oil prices climb and inflation concerns mount ahead of November midterm elections.

A Pentagon official confirmed the deployment by email to Yonhap News Agency on March 25. "We can confirm elements of the 82nd Airborne Division HQs, some division enablers and the 1st BCT will be deploying to the CENTCOM AOR," the official said. When pressed for details, the official added, "Due to operations security we have nothing additional to provide at this time."

The Korea Times reported that the Trump administration has relayed a 15-point peace proposal to Tehran through Pakistan. The proposal addresses Iran's nuclear programs, ballistic missile development and uranium stockpiles, according to The Korea Times.

Iran rebuffed the overture. A senior Iranian official indicated that any negotiations would proceed solely on Tehran's own conditions and schedule, Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency reported, as cited by The Korea Times.

The diplomatic push is being driven in part by alarm over rising oil prices and inflation ahead of the November midterms, The Korea Times reported, citing The New York Times.

The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran began Feb. 28, and the latest 2,000-soldier contingent joins some 5,000 additional troops already positioned in the region, according to The Korea Times. Iran has given no indication it intends to accept Washington's terms at the negotiating table.