U.S. Continues to Increase Troops in the Middle East Ahead of New Round of Talks with Iran

On February 16, Xinhua News Agency reported from Washington that the United States is continuing to significantly increase its military presence in the Middle East ahead of a new round of indirect negotiations with Iran, in order to pressure Iran and prepare for a military strike if the negotiations fail.

Multiple informed sources disclosed to the media that U.S. military aircraft, including tankers and fighter jets, stationed in the UK are being redeployed to areas closer to the Middle East. At the same time, the U.S. continues to transport air defense systems to the region, and several U.S. military units originally scheduled to rotate out in the coming weeks have extended their deployment.

Reports indicate that in recent weeks, dozens of U.S. military transport aircraft have been transporting equipment from the U.S. to Jordan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. On the evening of the 13th, several U.S. military aircraft were granted entry into Jordanian airspace. Satellite images show that since January 25, 12 U.S. F-15 fighter jets have been deployed at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

The U.S. has recently continued to pressure Iran by deploying an aircraft carrier strike group in the Middle East, threatening military intervention. White House officials claimed on the 15th that "all options" are on the table for President Trump. On the same day, U.S. media reported that the U.S. is sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East.

Iran and the U.S. are scheduled to hold a new round of indirect negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 17th. The two sides held talks in Muscat, the capital of Oman, on the 6th of this month, with Oman acting as an intermediary. From public statements, it appears that both sides remain uncompromising on core differences.