[Salon] Pentagon Weighs Sending 10, 000 More Ground Troops to the Middle East

[Chas Freeman <cwfresidence@gmail.com>]

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-us-israel-news-updates

3/26/26

Pentagon Weighs Sending 10,000 More Ground Troops to the Middle East

President Trump earlier said he was pausing strikes on Iran’s energy sector for 10 more days, to April 6, so peace negotiations can take place.

The Pentagon is looking at sending up to 10,000 additional ground troops to the Middle East to give President Trump more military options even as he weighs peace talks with Tehran, Department of Defense officials with knowledge of the planning said.

Trump earlier said he was pausing strikes on Iran’s energy sector for 10 more days, to April 6, so peace negotiations can take place beyond his previous Friday deadline. Peace talk mediators said Iran didn’t ask for the additional time. Trump said the extension was at Iran’s request.

Iran allowed several Pakistan-flagged oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a gesture Trump called a “present” to the U.S. that shows Iran’s leaders are serious about negotiating.

The Senate Armed Services Committee is planning to hold its first public hearing on the Trump administration’s war with Iran—but not before mid-April when senators return from their spring recess.

Pakistan said the U.S. and Iran were engaged in indirect talks through messages it was relaying, and that Tehran was considering Washington’s proposals.

Israel said earlier that it killed the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard navy, who was “directly responsible” for mining and blocking the strait, in overnight strikes. The head of U.S. Central Command called on every Iranian in the navy to abandon their posts or risk death.