US Deploys More Troops to Middle East Amid Iran Blockade

President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of thousands more U.S. troops to the Middle East on Wednesday, intensifying military pressure on Iran as diplomatic efforts to end the month-long war showed signs of revival. The move coincides with a U.S. naval blockade that has halted all maritime trade to and from Iranian ports within 36 hours of its start on Monday, according to U.S. Central Command.

The additional forces include about 6,000 personnel aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and accompanying warships, expected to arrive soon, along with roughly 4,200 members of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit by the end of April. Officials noted that approximately 50,000 U.S. troops are already in the region, bringing the total reinforcement to more than 10,000. The buildup aims to compel Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which a fifth of global oil passes in peacetime, and address other conflict issues.

The blockade, enforced by over a dozen U.S. warships and aircraft, targets vessels bound for or departing Iranian ports along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. In its first day, no ships breached the...