Trump rules out troops in Iran for now

US President Donald Trump has indicated that the United States is not yet planning to send additional troops to the Middle East despite the ongoing war with Iran. At the White House, he said he was ‘not sending troops anywhere’, although he added that he would not disclose such information if necessary.

His comments come shortly after reports that the administration is considering deploying thousands of troops to bolster operations in the region.

At the same time, the US State Department has approved a major arms sale to Middle Eastern countries worth more than $16.5 billion. The package includes missiles, drones and radar systems, as well as upgrades to F-16 aircraft for the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Jordan.

The move follows an escalation in the conflict, as Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure have driven gas and oil prices higher.

(reuters, pir)