WASHINGTON (AP) – Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan on Monday approved the dispatch of about 1,000 troops to the Middle East for “defensive” purposes to address Iran’s “threats” against US interests.
“Iran’s recent attacks prove the credible and credible (intelligence) we have received about the hostile behavior of Iranian forces and their groups that threaten US personnel and interests in the region,” Shahanan said in a statement. release.
The Pentagon chief said that this increase in troops in the region, where the United States has already deployed some 20,000 soldiers, has “defensive purposes” and insisted that “the US does not seek a conflict with Iran.”
“The measures we take today are to protect the safety and well-being of our military personnel and to protect our national interests, we will continue to monitor the situation diligently to make adjustments to the levels of necessary forces given intelligence reports and credible threats. “he added.
Shanahan said that the sending of troops was a request of the US Central Command. in consultations with the White House.
The president of the United States, Donald Trump, had announced at the end of May the sending of military personnel to the region, in that case 1,500.
“Things are going to go very well in the Middle East (…) I do not think Iran wants to fight, and I do not think they want to fight with us, but they can not have nuclear weapons,” the president said at the time.
Tension with Iran has rebounded since Washington announced in April the end of the exemptions for the purchase of Iranian oil and has continued with the designation as terrorists of the Guardians of the Revolution and the increase of the US military presence in the Middle East.
These frictions have escalated in the last days after the attack on two tankers in the Persian Gulf, of which Washington has accused Tehran, which, for its part, has held the US responsible. and its allies in the region. (EFEUSA)
