The US is sending more troops to the Middle East to protect its allaies. (Photo: Reuters)

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said the deployment of troops aims to protect US allies against Iran aggression and was requested by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday that the US hopes to avoid war with Iran and insisted that the additional troops are for “deterrence and defense.”

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the presence of foreign forces threatens energy and maritime security in the region, adding that security in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Sea of Oman must be ensured through regional cooperation. Hossein Salami, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said Iran will not let itself become a battlefield and will protect its territorial integrity at all costs. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the US’s move could lead to an all-out military conflict.

Iran staged a military parade in Tehran on Sunday with tanks, missiles, armored vehicles and assault boats. It also displayed foreign drones it shot down earlier.

The US is well aware that its latest action is fueling tensions, but is determined to protect its interests in the region. If the US ignores provocations, Washington’s influence in the region will be reduced and the situation in the Middle East will become more complicated, given that Russia and China are now seeking a greater role here.

Over the past decade, China has been building up its military presence overseas, particularly in the Persian Gulf, where 40% of its oil imports come from. The Chinese military has been involved in anti-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia and built a chain of so-called “civilian ports” in the Indian Ocean. China has also built a military base in Djibouti.

That’s why the US feels it has to maintain its presence in the Persian Gulf.