US expected to deploy paratroopers to the Middle East, as Iran taunts White House

Iran's military suggests the US might be negotiating with itself as President Donald Trump expresses optimism a deal to end the war is in sight.

Updated 7:10 AM EDT, Wed March 25, 2026

• US troop deployment: Around 1,000 US soldiers with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division are expected to deploy in coming days to the Middle East, sources told CNN, even as President Donald Trump expresses optimism that a deal to end the war with Iran is in sight.

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/iran-war-us-israel-trump-03-25-26

Approximately 1,000 US soldiers preparing to deploy to the Middle East to be available for Iran operations
By
Haley Britzky
,
Zachary Cohen

https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/24/politics/us-army-sending-troops-middle-east-iran

Approximately 1,000 US soldiers with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division are expecting to deploy in coming days to the Middle East, according to two sources familiar with the matter, adding to the growing military firepower in the region as the Trump administration says it is in talks with Iran to end the conflict.

The contingent includes Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, and division staff, as well as a battalion of the 1st Brigade Combat Team which is currently acting as the division’s Immediate Response Force (IRF), the sources said. The initial elements of the division staff and battalion are expected to begin deploying within a week, one of the sources familiar said; other elements within the brigade are also expecting to deploy at a later date, though those expectations could change as the situation develops.

The brigade will be the “ready unit” in the Middle East, prepared to be called upon if needed, the source said. The 82nd Airborne Division made a similar movement in 2020 after the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani.

The IRF is a brigade that is ready to move with limited notice, acting as a rapid response force able to deploy within hours when called upon. The designation of the IRF rotates between teams in the Army brigade.

The first source familiar said there had not yet been official orders to deploy, though they were expected imminently.