US to send more Marines to Middle East as Trump hints at wind-down

The Trump administration announced it is deploying additional warships and Marines to the Middle East even as the president has hinted at de-escalating a three-week-old regional conflict. Iran responded by threatening to expand retaliatory attacks beyond military and government targets to include recreational and tourist sites globally, signaling an intent to broaden the scope of potential strikes. The deployment reflects a contradictory posture—reinforcing U.S. military presence while publicly suggesting moves toward a wind-down—that could be designed either to strengthen America's negotiating position or to deter further Iranian action. Iran's threat to target civilian infrastructure marks a significant escalation in rhetoric and represents a potential shift toward attacks that could affect American citizens and allies abroad. The moves set up competing pressures: the U.S. military buildup could provoke further Iranian escalation, while Trump's public hints at de-escalation may undermine the credibility of the military reinforcement.