Iranian threat concerns US

– The US this week said it was considering deploying fresh forces to counter Iran, with an official saying some 5 000 to 7 000 troops could head to the region.

Testifying before Congress, undersecretary of defence for policy John Rood said the US was “observing Iran’s behaviour with concern”.

Rood told the Senate armed services committee: “We’re continuing to look at that threat picture and have the ability to dynamically adjust our force posture.”

A US official said on condition of anonymity that Defence Secretary Mark Esper was considering moving troops to the Middle East due to frustrations with Iranian-linked groups’ attacks on US assets.

Rood denied a report by The Wall Street Journal stating the US was considering sending 14 000 more troops – equivalent to the number sent over the past six months.

Esper also denied that figure in a phone call with committee chairperson Senator Jim Inhofe, Pentagon spokesperson Alyssa Farah said.

US President Donald Trump later tweeted: “The story today that we are sending 12 000 troops to Saudi Arabia is false or, to put it more accurately, Fake News!”

It was not immediately clear which report the president was referring to.

Tensions have risen sharply with Iran since Trump last year pulled out of a denuclearisation pact and imposed sweeping sanctions, including trying to block all its oil exports.

In September, the US said Iran was responsible for attacks on the Abqaiq oil processing centre in Saudi Arabia, a close US ally and Iran’s regional rival. Riyadh asked Washington for reinforcements.

The US has also been alarmed by an uptick in attacks on bases in Iraq.