US strengthens military presence near Iran, treasury secretary says

The United States is reinforcing its military posture near Iran after President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the deployment of additional troops, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Fox News.

“The president last March gave me the order to exert maximum pressure on the Iranians and it worked,” Bessent said.

He added that Trump remains open to negotiations with Tehran, while emphasising that Washington continues to apply economic and military pressure.

“What the Iranian understand is brute force whether it is in the financial market or on the military field and on the treasury," he added.

Bessent noted that the Treasury Department is actively involved in implementing sanctions and other financial measures as part of the administration’s broader strategy toward Iran.

As part of the military buildup in the Middle East, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, a squadron of F-15 fighter jets, and C-17 transport aircraft have already been deployed to the region.

Earlier, Trump said a large U.S. military fleet was heading toward Iran. He expressed hope that Tehran would agree to negotiations and reach a “fair and equitable” agreement, suggesting that this would involve a complete renunciation of nuclear weapons.

By Sabina Mammadli