According to President Donald Trump, the USA is considering scaling back its attacks in Iran, but at the same time, according to US media reports, it is sending thousands more soldiers to the region.
March 21, 2026, 06:27March 21, 2026, 06:27
The USA is on the verge of achieving its own goals in the war, Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform. He described the NATO allies as “cowards” because they did not help the USA secure the Strait of Hormuz.
Without the USA, the defense alliance would be a toothless tiger, the Republican wrote. Now that the battle has been “WON” militarily, they complain about high oil prices but will not help open the Strait of Hormuz. “It would be so easy for them and involve little risk. COWARDS, we will remember that!” Trump continued.
Trump: Others must secure Strait of Hormuz
Other countries must protect the strait, which is important for the oil market, wrote the US President. If asked, the US would help them. “But that should no longer be necessary once the threat from Iran is eliminated.” Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has virtually come to a standstill because of the war and the threat of Iranian attacks.
To get rising oil prices under control, the US is temporarily easing sanctions on Iranian oil that is on ships. The US Treasury Department said sales and delivery would be allowed until April 19. The USA recently announced that Russian oil that was already on ships could temporarily be sold again with impunity.
According to information from the US news portal Axios, Trump’s government is considering plans to occupy or block the Iranian oil island of Kharg in order to persuade Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. A week ago, the US military bombed dozens of military targets there.
Reports: US sends thousands more soldiers
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon is currently sending three warships and 2,200 to 2,500 additional marines to the Middle East. The US broadcaster CBS News also quoted anonymous sources saying that the Pentagon was also making preparations for the deployment of ground troops in Iran.
Donald Trump is accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Colonel Christopher M. Robinson of the US Air Force at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland (March 20, 2026).Image: keystone
President Trump was considering whether ground troops should be stationed in the region, it was said. However, it is still unclear under what circumstances the President would authorize the use of ground troops.
Trump doesn’t want a ceasefire
Trump was quoted by US media outside the White House on Friday as saying: “I don’t want a ceasefire. You don’t make a truce if you literally wipe out the other side.” He then wrote on Truth Social that the USA was close to achieving its own war goals.
This included destroying Iran’s missile capabilities and defense industry and eliminating its navy and air force, including its anti-aircraft systems. It is also about never allowing Iran to come anywhere close to acquiring nuclear weapons. Another goal is to protect allies in the Middle East.
US military increases attacks
However, the US President has already declared several times that the war is almost over. Afterwards, the US attacks intensified, as the New York Times noted. In fact, according to other US media, US fighter jets and attack helicopters are currently increasing their attacks on Iranian drones and warships in order to clear the important Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed in a telephone conversation with the Japanese news agency Kyodo that his country had not closed the strait. Iran is ready to guarantee safe passage to countries like Japan as long as they coordinate with Tehran. At the same time, the Foreign Minister emphasized that Iran was “not seeking a ceasefire, but rather a complete, comprehensive and permanent end to the war”.
The USA and Israel have been attacking Iran for three weeks now. In return, Tehran attacks Israel and neighboring Gulf states that host US military bases. Since the start of the war, at least 37 oil refineries, natural gas fields and other energy facilities in nine countries have been damaged by drone and missile attacks, the New York Times reported. Iran has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks.
Report: US delivers defense systems to Middle East allies
The Trump administration is pushing hard to deliver air defense systems, radar systems and drone defense systems to Arab states and US forces in the Gulf region in the hope of strengthening their defense capabilities against ongoing and precise Iranian missile and drone attacks, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The shipment of weapons and equipment signals concern within the Pentagon that Iran remains capable of devastating attacks while allies’ supplies of missile defense systems are depleted and drones continue to pass unhindered, the newspaper wrote.
Iran warns Great Britain
Meanwhile, Tehran warned British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that its recent change of course on the US’s use of British military bases would not be without consequences. Starmer is putting his own compatriots in danger by allowing “British bases to be used for attacks against Iran,” wrote Foreign Minister Araghtschi on Platform X.
The British government had previously confirmed “that the agreement allowing the US to use British bases as part of the collective self-defense of the region also includes US defensive operations to weaken missile sites and capabilities used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.” Great Britain initially only allowed the USA to use British bases for defense operations to protect British interests or human lives.
Reports: Iran attacks US-British military base
According to US media reports, Iran has attacked a military base shared by Britain and the US in the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. The Islamic Republic attacked the base on the island of Diego Garcia with ballistic missiles on Friday morning (local time), as reported by the Wall Street Journal and the broadcaster CNN, citing senior US officials.
Iran’s military spokesman warns enemies of global persecution
The spokesman for the Iranian armed forces, Abolfasl Shekarchi, meanwhile threatened political and military opponents with worldwide persecution. According to the Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, he said those responsible, commanders, pilots and soldiers were under observation. From now on, excursion destinations, recreational areas and tourist centers around the world would no longer be safe for them. (sda/dpa)