Trump dodges question about Marines headed to Middle East, troops in Iran

President Trump extended his self-imposed deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, following earlier threats to bomb Iranian power plants. The announcement came as Trump declined to answer direct questions from reporters about deploying additional Marines and troops to the Middle East region. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passes, making Iranian control over it a significant geopolitical concern. Trump's extension of the deadline and refusal to discuss troop deployments suggest the administration is weighing military and diplomatic options simultaneously, though the specific timeline and terms of the ultimatum remain unclear. The strategy reflects Trump's pattern of combining public threats with negotiation tactics, though it leaves open questions about what enforcement action he plans if Iran does not comply.