The Trump administration is weighing the deployment of additional American troops to the Middle East as the ongoing conflict with Iran enters a potentially new and more complex phase, according to multiple sources familiar with internal deliberations, reported Reuters.

Discussions within the administration include the possibility of sending thousands of US troops to bolster ongoing military operations. Among the options under review is securing safe passage for global oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Sources said this mission would largely rely on air and naval forces, but could also involve the deployment of ground troops along Iran’s coastline, significantly escalating US involvement on Iranian territory.