(Bloomberg) — The Trump administration has ordered the 82nd Airborne Division to deploy about 2,000 troops to the Middle East, a person familiar with the matter said, as the White House considers options to ease Iran’s squeeze on the Strait of Hormuz.
The verbal orders cover about two battalions plus enabling units, according to the person, who asked not to be identified discussing the plans, which have not been made public. They join two naval expeditionary forces – with about 5,000 troops – expected to begin arriving in the region in the coming days.
Administration officials have not said what the troops will serve, but they could be tasked with various support roles or serve as the vanguard of a ground attack. Scenarios including seizing Kharg Island, which provides most of Iran’s energy exports, seizing land along Iran’s coast, or participating in an operation to seize Iranian nuclear material.
“All troop deployment announcements will come from the War Department,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said, using the administration’s preferred term for the Defense Department. She said President Donald Trump “has every military option at his disposal.”
The Wall Street Journal previously reported that the US is deploying a brigade combat team of about 3,000 troops under the 82nd Airborne Division. Fox News reported that the commander of the 82nd, Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier, was ordered to deploy along with his command element.
The possible deployment of ground troops in the war against Iran would further escalate the conflict at a time when markets were expecting the opposite after Trump said on Monday that he was in talks with Iran to end the war.
Stocks fell and oil prices rose on Tuesday afternoon after the news, while Trump’s comments about possible talks with Iran later pushed stocks off session lows.
The 82nd, stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is an elite rapid response unit designed and trained to deploy anywhere in the world within 6 p.m. Its light infantry units are trained to parachute into raids and secure high-value targets such as airfields.
Trump has not ruled out seizing Iran’s oil export hub on Kharg Island to push Tehran out of the vital Strait of Hormuz. The US has already sent two naval expeditionary forces as more aircraft and ships continue to arrive in the region.
While the 82nd Airborne would likely deploy by parachute, Marines from expeditionary forces would likely arrive by helicopter, amphibious landing craft, and small boats.
The moves come as pressure mounts on the US to take action to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil and gas flows that has been effectively closed since the war began on February 28, sending energy prices soaring.
It also comes just a day after Trump said the US was engaged in talks with Iran to end the war – talks Tehran has denied. On Tuesday, Trump said the US had effectively defeated Iran militarily and both sides were now talking about ending the conflict.
“We are negotiating right now,” Trump told reporters at the White House, noting that special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are involved, as well as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. “I think we’re going to end it, I can’t tell you for sure.
“Washington may be hoping that the signal sent by their deployment will bring Tehran to the table,” Bloomberg Economics analysts Becca Wasser, Jennifer Welch and Adam Farrar wrote in a research note on Tuesday. “If this maneuver fails, and once the 82nd Airborne arrives on the battlefield, there are several potential missions for them. All carry a high degree of military – and by extension political – risk.”
At the same time, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that their contributions to the military campaign would continue “in full force”.
Separately, several Gulf countries are considering whether to respond with military force to Iran’s ongoing retaliation against their energy infrastructure, according to several people with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity to speak freely.
The Gulf countries would join the war only if Tehran followed through on threats to attack key Gulf energy and water infrastructure — a high bar, the people added.
–With help from Courtney Subramanian.
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