US deploys carrier strike group to Middle East as Trump claims Iran sought ceasefire
WASHINGTON, DC: The United States is dispatching thousands of additional troops to the Middle East aboard the aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush, even as President Donald Trump claims Tehran has sought a ceasefire.
The carrier departed on Tuesday, March 31, along with three destroyers, forming a strike group of more than 6,000 sailors, according to reports.
Fresh deployments follow earlier troop surge
The latest move comes days after Washington sent 2,500 Marines and 2,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the region. Officials have not clarified the specific mission of these forces.
Neither the Pentagon nor US Central Command responded immediately to queries regarding the deployments.
Tensions rise as conflict enters second month
The reinforcements come as tens of thousands of US personnel are already stationed across the Middle East, with the US-Israel conflict involving Iran entering its second month.
Trump has warned of further escalation linked to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, even as he suggested that hostilities could soon de-escalate.
In a post on his platform Truth Social, Trump said Iran’s new leadership had approached Washington for a ceasefire, though he did not identify the leader.
“We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear,” he said, warning that until then the US would continue intense military action.
In remarks to Reuters, Trump added that American forces could withdraw from Iran quickly but remain capable of conducting targeted strikes if required.
US keeps options open on ground deployment
Administration officials have declined to rule out the possibility of deploying US troops inside Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized a strategy of unpredictability.
“We’re not going to foreclose any option,” Hegseth said, stressing that revealing operational limits could undermine military effectiveness.
The USS George HW Bush is expected to replace the USS Gerald R Ford, which was forced to leave the Red Sea following a fire onboard and is currently undergoing repairs in Crete, Greece.
🔥 Secretary of War: You Don't Forecast Your Plan To The Enemy
— Mr Producer (@RichSementa) March 31, 2026
Pete Hegseth: "What [Trump's] simply saying is exactly true: We're not going to foreclose any option. You can't fight or win a war if you tell your adversary what you are willing to do or what you are not willing to… https://t.co/Rq456D6DBy pic.twitter.com/ddzRihlrbP
Meanwhile, the USS Abraham Lincoln has maintained a sustained presence in the Middle East since January, underscoring the scale of ongoing US military operations in the region.
