The Donald Trump administration is weighing deploying thousands of American troops to bolster its war against Iran in what could be a new phase of the conflict.
The deployment would help ensure safe passage for oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a job that would be mostly carried out by air and naval forces, according to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the issue, including US officials.
US strikes have primarily targeted Iranian navy ships and submarines.
However, according to the sources cited, protecting the Strait would also entail sending US troops to Iran’s coastline and ground forces to the nation’s Kharg Island, which serves as the hub for 90% of Iran’s oil exports.
Since the inception of the war on February 28, at least 13 US soldiers have died and roughly 200 have been injured.
According to the sources, officials in the Trump administration have also talked about using US soldiers to protect Iran’s highly enriched uranium reserves.
READ ALSO: War Crisis: Saudi Arabia threatens retaliatory attacks against Iran
According to Trump, his objectives may include preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and ensuring safe passage across the Strait in addition to weakening Iran’s military capabilities.
There has been little interest from allies to join the conflict.
56% of Americans are against US military action in Iran, according to a Marist poll conducted earlier this month in collaboration with NPR and PBS News. At the same time, a Quinnipiac survey revealed that 53% of Americans are against the strikes and about 40% are in favour of them.
A separate Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 27 percent of respondents approved of the strikes.
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