Dubai, March 21
US President Donald Trump has said his administration is considering “winding down” military operations in the Middle East, even as Washington announced the deployment of additional warships and Marines to the region.
The mixed signals from the US came as Iran threatened attacks on tourist sites worldwide and the conflict showed no sign of easing.
The remarks followed a fresh rise in oil prices, which rattled US markets, while the Trump administration also said it would lift sanctions on Iranian oil being transported by ships — a move seen as an effort to contain surging fuel costs.
Fighting continued overnight, with Israel saying Iran fired more missiles early on Saturday. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted 20 drones within a few hours over its eastern region, home to key oil facilities.
Saudi authorities said there were no injuries or damage.
The wider conflict has left a mounting human toll. More than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran, over 1,000 in Lebanon, while 15 people have died in Israel and 13 US military personnel have been killed in the region.
Millions of people in Iran and Lebanon have also been displaced as the war intensifies.
