Before the important peace talks between America and Iran, global tension seems to be increasing once again. Before these proposed talks in Islamabad, on one hand America is intensifying diplomatic efforts, and on the other hand it is also rapidly increasing its military presence in West Asia.
US Vice President JD Vance is visiting Pakistan, where he will take part in important talks with Iran. This meeting is taking place at a time when the situation in the region remains extremely sensitive and any small incident is likely to trigger a major conflict.
American military gathering increasing in West Asia
According to the Wall Street Journal report, American fighter jets and attack aircraft have already reached the area. Apart from this, the US Army 82nd Airborne Division 1,500 to 2,000 soldiers will be deployed in the coming days.
A large scale movement is also being seen on the maritime front. The USS George HW Bush Carrier Strike Group is transiting the Atlantic Ocean, while the USS Boxer Amphibious Group and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are moving from the Pacific to the Gulf. All of these are likely to arrive in more than a week.
How much did the number of American soldiers increase?
With these deployments, the number of American troops in West Asia has crossed 50,000, which is usually around 40,000. Apart from this, about 2,500 marines and 2,500 marines are already present in the area. These forces could also be used in ground operations, including the possibility of targeting Iran’s strategic targets such as Kharg Island, its major oil export hub.
Negotiations starting under pressure
On the other hand, Iran has also shown its readiness for talks. A senior delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqar Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reached Islamabad. However, Tehran has also set conditions for talks.
Iran says a ceasefire should be implemented in Lebanon before formal talks. Ghalibaf said Iran is ready to negotiate in good faith, but it does not trust America. He warned that if the talks turned out to be a sham, Tehran would retaliate.