Trump says no plans to deploy troops to Mideast

WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he does not intend to deploy additional troops to the Middle East amid the war with Iran.

“I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you … but I’m not putting troops,” Trump told reporters during an Oval Office meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Trump said the US military has already inflicted heavy damage on Iran’s capabilities.

“We’ve obliterated just about everything there is to obliterate, including leadership,” he said, claiming Iran’s navy, air force and air defense systems had been destroyed. “We’re flying wherever we want … nobody’s even shooting at us.”

Trump said Washington would act to stabilize global energy markets. “We will do whatever is necessary to keep the (oil) price as well,” he said.

Regional tensions have flared since Israel and the US launched joint attacks against Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and over 150 children at a girls' elementary school.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries, saying the attacks are targeting “US assets” in the region.