US weighs 10,000-troop Middle East buildup as carrier sails

Reports published on October 2 said the United States was preparing to send thousands of additional personnel, another carrier strike group and Marine Corps ships to the Middle East. The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier group left San Diego on Sunday for the region, according to three outlets, while the reported deployment of as many as 10,000 additional personnel has not been officially confirmed.¹²⁴

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Scale of the deployment

The Theodore Roosevelt would join the USS George H.W. Bush and USS George Washington, which are already in the Middle East. However, Anadolu Agency reported that the George Washington could return to Japan, meaning the region might ultimately retain two carriers rather than three.²³⁵⁶

According to CNBC, the deployment included vessels carrying Marines and as many as 10,000 more personnel, with their arrival anticipated in November. ChosunBiz put the additional force at between 9,000 and 10,000 and said the three-ship Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group was heading to the region with members of the 13th Expeditionary Unit. These details remain based on individual reports rather than a confirmed Pentagon announcement.²⁵

Al Jazeera reported that the Makin Island force carries more than 2,000 Marines and that the wider deployment includes F-35 fighters. It said three carriers and two amphibious landing groups could be positioned near Iran by the end of November. The outlet also reported that roughly 50,000 US service members were already stationed in the region.¹

The estimate of more than 50,000 US personnel already in the Middle East was also reported by Anadolu Agency and ChosunBiz. Anadolu reported that air-defence forces and soldiers from the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division would stay longer than planned, alongside roughly 20 Navy vessels assisting operations in the region.⁵⁶

Military options and diplomacy

The movement comes as President Donald Trump has left open the possibility of further military action against Iran. Al Jazeera reported that US forces would remain in place even if Washington and Tehran reached an agreement, and quoted Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth as saying they were “ready to go” if Trump ordered strikes.¹

CNBC reported that the conflict was in its eighth month and remained at a stalemate, and that Trump expected bombing to resume in November. ChosunBiz separately reported that Trump said an increase in the intensity of strikes after the midterm elections was possible. Neither account of his plans has been officially confirmed in the dossier.²⁵

Al Jazeera reported that Iran proposed a seven-day plan involving the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, renewed nuclear negotiations, sanctions relief and a regional ceasefire. It said the Trump administration rejected the proposal, while indirect discussions through mediators continued without a breakthrough.¹

According to Al Jazeera, US ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said demands involving frozen funds and sanctions relief were not open to negotiation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country was ready for the fighting to restart, but stressed that its purpose in travelling to New York was not to promote war. We came to forge peace.”¹

Sanctions and energy markets

CNBC reported that the US Treasury sanctioned Iran’s automotive and rail sectors, as well as the A7 Network. The outlet described A7 as a Russia-linked financial network used by the Iranian authorities to circumvent sanctions. Al Jazeera also reported sanctions against Iranian rail and automotive conglomerates and said the Treasury intended to reduce Tehran’s remaining revenue.¹²

Concern about renewed conflict and possible disruption to energy supplies drove oil prices higher, according to CNBC. It reported that Brent crude gained 4.4 per cent to settle at $102.31 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate futures rose 2.7 per cent to $92.87.²