2,000 Marines Toward Middle East as US Military Buildup Around Iran Intensifies
The US is increasing its military presence around Iran, with international media reports saying the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group and the USS Makin Island amphibious force, carrying around 2,000 Marines, have departed San Diego for the Middle East.
The Roosevelt left on September 27, while the Makin Island group sailed a day later. Two other US carrier strike groups — the USS George H.W. Bush and USS George Washington — are already in the region. The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group is also operating near the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that a supertanker carrying around 2.5 million barrels of oil was hit by an unidentified projectile and caught fire while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump has warned that heavier strikes on Iran remain possible and said he rejected Tehran’s proposal for reopening the Strait, calling it insufficient.
The US Treasury has also announced fresh sanctions targeting Iran’s major automakers, motorcycle manufacturers and overseas auto-parts suppliers.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, meanwhile, said Tehran has never avoided dialogue with Washington, despite repeated attacks during negotiations. The developments come amid growing concerns over oil supplies and a potential global diesel shortage.
