Trump Denies Plans for Troops in Iran
President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that he has no plans to deploy ground troops to Iran, dismissing rumors suggesting his administration might be considering sending thousands of troops to the Middle East.
During a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office, Trump clarified that the notion of sending troops was unfounded.
A reporter asked, “Do you intend to lift sanctions on Iranian oil? And is there any possibility of stationing US troops or more troops in the region?”
Trump responded firmly, “No, I’m not sending troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you, but I’m not sending troops.”
This statement came after a Reuters report cited an anonymous source claiming that Trump was contemplating sending thousands of U.S. troops to bolster operations in the region.
The unnamed source mentioned various military options, suggesting that securing safe passage for oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz might require deploying U.S. forces along Iran’s coastline.
In his Thursday comments, Trump also pointed out the significant highs of the stock market, noting that the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached $50,000 and the S&P 500 hit $7,000 prior to his actions regarding Iran. He added that many doubted these milestones could be reached so swiftly during his presidency.
“Everything was going well. The economy was great. Oil prices were very low. Gas was down to $1.99 or $1.85. We had everything great,” he remarked. “I saw what was happening in Iran and said, ‘I don’t want to do this expedition, but I have to do it.’
He continued, “Actually, I thought the numbers would be worse. I thought it would be higher, but we’re doing this excursion and once it’s done, it’s going to be a safer world. The Prime Minister agrees with me on this.”
Trump labeled Iran as a significant global threat, stating, “every nation agrees.” He expressed concern that while addressing the situation might raise oil prices slightly and impact the economy, he anticipated worse outcomes. “I thought it could be worse. It’s not bad and it’ll be over soon,” he added.
