The weekend news about Iran was predictably full of both news and speculation about who, what, and when. At the same time some are predicting U.S. military troops will be ambushed and even massacred in Tehran, a Washington Post story was more fact-based: it reported the Pentagon is preparing for a “new phase” in Epic Fury, which is ground combat.
The update confirming their location came from U.S. Central Command itself, however. A CENTOM social media post announced the USS Tripoli, with 3,500 sailors and Marines, arrived in its area of responsibility March 27.
That force of U.S. Marines is in theater along with Marines aboard two more amphibious assault ships, the USS Bataan and the USS Mesa Verde, according to news reports.
In a March 30 story, the news weeks ago the 82nd Airborne is on alert for deployment became old news overnight. That's because Reuters and other news outlets reported the Division's headquarters, and the 1st Brigade Combat Team, are now in the Middle East.
At about the same time the USS Tripoli was entering Persian Gulf waters late last week, Middle East expert Elliot Abrams told “Washington Watch” he predicts ground troops will be used in Iran in coming days or weeks.
“It is hard to believe the president would send thousands of troops,” Abrams reasoned, “if he really doesn't have any intention of using them.”
Abrams, who worked on Iran during President Trump’s first term, is a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Abrams was asked by show host Jody Hice for his reaction to comments from Marco Rubo, the U.S. secretary of state, who said last Friday ground troops are not necessary for the Pentagon to meet its military objectives in Iran.
Abrams called Rubio’s comment a possible ruse or a feint to mislead the Iranians about the next phase of Epic Fury.
On a related topic, Abrams was asked about President Trump’s comment that promising peace negotiations are happening within Iranian officials. There is a huge “gap” between both sides, Abrams insisted, that will not be closed with a peace treaty signed by Iran and the United States.
“I think it's more likely,” Abrams replied, “that the president is going to hit the targets he wants to hit over the next couple of weeks and then basically stop.”
Or perhaps both things – more bombs and missiles, and peace negotiations – can be true. The U.S. and Iran have been in backroom talks for weeks with Pakistan acting as a go-between.
In comments to reporters Monday, President Trump disclosed that Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, is the Iranian official who has been negotiating with the United States.
It was unclear why Trump disclosed Ghalibaf's name, since doing so could lead to his arrest and execution, a possibility Trump himself has stated in recent days.
One day earlier, Ghalibaf himself told Iran's state media that U.S. troops will be "set on fire" if they step foot on Iranian soil.
"As long as the Americans seek Iran's surrender, our response is clear: Far be it from us to accept humiliation," Ghalibaf said.
