US Military Alarmed by Iran’s Defense Might

US military officials are expressing alarm that a shrinking US military presence in the Middle East has undermined their ability to respond to Iranian forces, just as the incumbent US administration’s reimposition of sanctions increases the potential for confrontation.
The officials are worried that Iran could lash out by employing its robust arsenal of ballistic missiles or using mines to shut down waterways crucial to global commerce, the Washington Post reported.
The US footprint in the region has shrunk, as the Pentagon seeks to direct the military toward competition with China and Russia rather than insurgent groups in the Middle East.
It is the campaign to contain Tehran’s nuclear and regional activities that some US military officials think has increased the likelihood of confrontation.
Multiple officials said the US Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, has requested additional resources.
The US military has not had an aircraft carrier in the region since March. The shift has occurred after Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, if the need arises.