MojNews- Pentagon is considering a US military request to dispatch about 5000 additional troops to the Middle East amid increasing tensions with Iran, two US officials told Reuters. 

Tehran and Washington have this month been escalating rhetoric against each other, following US President Donald Trump ’s decision to try to cut Iran’s oil exports to zero and beef up the US military presence in the Persian Gulf in response to what he addressed as so-called "Iranian threats".

The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the request had been made by US Central Command, but added that it was not clear whether the Pentagon would approve the request.

One of the officials said the requested troops would be defensive in nature.