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THE United States is preparing to deploy at least 1,000 troops from its elite rapid-response force to the Middle East, signalling a further escalation of its military posture even as the White House points to possible diplomatic progress with Iran.
AP reported on Wednesday that officials familiar with the plans said elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, including a battalion from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, could be dispatched within days alongside senior command staff led by Major General Brandon Tegtmeier.
The division, based at Fort Bragg, is trained for rapid deployment into hostile or contested environments, with capabilities to secure strategic positions such as airfields.
The move follows earlier plans to send thousands of US Marines aboard naval vessels to the region, expanding an already substantial American presence of around 50,000 troops.
While Marine units are typically tasked with embassy protection, evacuations and humanitarian operations, airborne forces are designed for direct combat insertion, underscoring the heightened military posture as the conflict enters a critical phase.
At the White House, spokeswoman Anna Kelly declined to comment directly on the deployment, saying the matter falls under the Pentagon, but added that “President Donald Trump always has all military options at his disposal.”
The potential deployment is expected to be discussed in a classified briefing to lawmakers, as members of Congress seek clarity on the administration’s strategy.
At the same time, Trump has suggested that diplomatic efforts are under way to bring the conflict to an end, despite denials from Tehran.
“We have a number of people doing it,” Trump said. “And the other side, I can tell you, they’d like to make a deal.”
He said envoy Steve Witkoff, senior adviser Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance were involved in the effort.
Iranian officials, however, have rejected claims of direct negotiations. Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf denied any talks, while a military spokesman vowed continued resistance “until complete victory.”
The conflict has continued to escalate across the region, with Israel launching sustained airstrikes on Iranian targets, including sites linked to allied militant groups, while Iranian missiles and drones have struck multiple locations across the Middle East.
Attacks have disrupted infrastructure in Kuwait and targeted energy-rich regions in Saudi Arabia, while repeated barrages have been directed at Israel. Cross-border attacks from Lebanon have also intensified, with casualties reported.
Israel has also expanded strikes on Beirut, saying it is targeting infrastructure linked to the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.
The humanitarian toll has mounted sharply, with more than 1,500 people reported killed in Iran, over 1,000 in Lebanon, alongside casualties in Israel and among US personnel.
Millions have been displaced across the region, while United Nations peacekeepers have reported “intense gunfire and explosions” in southern Lebanon.
Despite the escalating violence, Trump has continued to suggest that a negotiated outcome may be within reach, even claiming that Iran had offered an energy-related “present” as talks progress — an assertion firmly rejected by Tehran.
The parallel pursuit of military escalation and diplomatic engagement underscores the uncertainty surrounding the conflict’s trajectory, with questions remaining over whether a lasting resolution can be achieved. - March 25, 2026