Iran Press/America: While Donald Trump said he 'doesn't think Iran wants to fight', US President said the country will send about 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East for 'protective' purposes.
Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn shortly before departing for a trip to Japan on Friday, Trump said the purpose of this deployment is to increase the security of forces already in the region, AP reported.
"Right now, I don't think Iran wants to fight. And I certainly don't think they want to fight with us," he added.
The Pentagon said only about 900 of the 1500 troops will be newly deployed. It said the other 600 are already in the Middle East region and other will be extended in the coming weeks.
At a Pentagon news briefing on Friday, officials said the US plans to send 900 more forces, including engineers and a fighter aircraft squadron, to the Middle East to bolster US defense and extend the deployment of some 600 personnel manning Patriot missiles.
The US Defense Department confirmed deployment of Patriot missile batteries and reconnaissance planes approved by the US president.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated his country's rejection of the US's increase in military deployments to the region while on a visit to Pakistan.
Iran "will see the end of Trump, but he will never see the end of Iran," Zarif said during his trip to the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Friday before the US announced the troop increase.
Earlier this month, the US sent a carrier attack group and bomber taskforce to the Middle East, citing a "credible threat" from Tehran.
The news came after acting US Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan denied earlier reports that the Trump administration was planning to send as many as 10,000 troops to the region.
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