WASHINGTON — With a pending $200 billion request for war to Congress, President Donald Trump sent about 2,500 more U.S. Marines to join the more than 50,000 troops in the Middle East.
Iranian Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi threatened to attack “parks, recreational areas, and tourist destinations” during an announcement on Friday. Iran has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz to raise oil prices.
To help increase supply, which affects oil prices, the US Treasury Department suspended sanctions on Iranian oil shipments stranded at sea until April 19.
“We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East,” Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social.
Israel and the U.S. have been attacking Iran since Feb. 28. Israel is also attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran has continued attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab states even as Muslims marked Eid al-Fitr, the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
The Pentagon had announced that 13 U.S. military members have died since Feb. 28 in the Middle East.
More on Iran war
- Iran threatens tourism sites and US sends more Marines to Middle East as Trump hints at wind-down
- Kuwait says its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery again hit in Iranian drone attacks, starting fire
- Pete Hegseth’s Christian rhetoric draws renewed scrutiny after the US goes to war with Iran
- Departed counterterrorism official who resigned over Iran war denies leaking classified documents
- Iranians mark Persian new year with heavy hearts as war cuts contact with loved ones
- War, through food’s lens: How Iranian Americans are celebrating their new year — or not
- High oil prices knock down stocks and erase Wall Street’s hopes for a cut to interest rates
- As the US shifts missiles towards Iran, officials raise concerns of gaps in European air defenses
Torres contributed to this report from Miami.
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