U.S. Marines Head to Middle East: A Bold Plan Taking Shape?

Mar 21, 2026

U.S. Marines Head to Middle East: A Bold Plan Taking Shape?

U.S. Marine forces are expected to arrive in the Middle East next week to help Washington reopen the Strait of Hormuz or carry out other covert missions, according to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal.

U.S. Marines conduct a small-boat raid exercise in Okinawa, Japan, last month (Photo: U.S. military).

Amid soaring global oil and gas prices driven by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump is pressing aides and allies to find solutions—potentially with the U.S. Marine Corps playing a central role.

According to the WSJ, the Pentagon has deployed the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), a rapid-response force of about 2,200 Marines based in Okinawa, Japan, to the Middle East.

The move is seen as preparation for a potential military operation targeting Iran, aimed at securing control of the Strait of Hormuz, Kharg Island, and other strategic islands. These locations could serve as staging grounds or defensive bases against Iranian attacks on commercial shipping.

The MEU is a self-contained force of roughly 2,200 personnel, integrating ground troops, aviation, and logistics. As a core element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), it can operate independently from the sea, conducting amphibious assaults, evacuations, or high-intensity combat without immediate resupply.

Its four main components include:

Ground Combat Element: Marines equipped with armored vehicles and artillery
Aviation Combat Element: Aircraft such as the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor, helicopters, and F-35B fighter jets
Command Element: Coordinates operations
Logistics Combat Element: Provides essential support, supplies, and maintenance

The unit is particularly specialized in amphibious and airborne assault operations.

Strait of Hormuz: Economic and Military Flashpoint

Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—a critical waterway through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil and gas flows—has dealt a heavy blow to the global economy, driving up fuel prices and creating a major military and political challenge for the Trump administration.

U.S. forces are attempting to reopen the strait by targeting Tehran’s threat capabilities, including anti-ship missile sites, missile production and storage facilities, drones, and naval mines.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) says about 50,000 U.S. troops are currently deployed in the Middle East as part of the conflict with Iran. Since launching operations on February 28, the Pentagon has conducted more than 7,800 airstrikes, damaging or destroying over 120 Iranian vessels, according to a March 18 report from CENTCOM.

Most recently, on March 17, U.S. forces dropped bunker-buster bombs weighing more than two tons on fortified Iranian coastal positions used to store anti-ship cruise missiles.

Despite nearly three weeks of U.S.-Israeli strikes, Iran continues to target American forces and their allies in the region. Caitlin Talmadge of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology noted: “The U.S. has carried out thousands of sorties, but we are still not certain that all of Iran’s capabilities have been eliminated.”

Washington’s Strategic Options

Deploying a combat-ready unit like the 31st MEU gives President Trump additional options to pressure Tehran. Iran controls several small islands off its southern coast, where it maintains oil infrastructure and missile bases.

First, Kharg Island: Covering about 25 square kilometers, this island is Iran’s most economically vital, located roughly 20 km off its southwest coast in the Persian Gulf. It serves as the country’s primary oil export hub. On March 16, Trump threatened to strike its pipelines after U.S. forces had already targeted key military facilities there the previous week.

Rather than destroying Kharg’s oil infrastructure, U.S. Marines could seize the island and use it as leverage to reopen the strait.

Retired General Frank McKenzie explained: “The U.S. could destroy the oil infrastructure, which would cause irreparable damage to Iran’s economy and the global economy, or seize it as a bargaining chip without permanently harming global markets.”

Such an operation could be carried out by sea, with the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli deploying landing craft and Marines. Alternatively, it could be conducted primarily by air, using MV-22 Ospreys and helicopters capable of vertical takeoff and landing from ships or nearby Gulf states.

Vice Admiral John Miller added: “U.S. Marines could also be deployed to seize control of other islands within the strait, positioning forces to intercept Iranian fast boats and shoot down missiles threatening maritime traffic.”

Kharg Island serves as a key transshipment hub for delivering Iranian crude oil to major Asian markets (Photo: Google Maps).

Second, Qeshm Island: Located at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, it serves as a safe harbor for Iranian naval forces and missiles, and hosts a major desalination plant. Its size and location allow Tehran to control shipping flows.

Third, Kish Island: A smaller economic hub west of Qeshm, featuring an airport.

Fourth, Hormuz Island: Situated east of Qeshm, where Iran stations small attack vessels.

Nicole Grajewski of Sciences Po noted that many of these locations are heavily fortified or were previously abandoned sites dating back to the Shah’s era.

Positioning Marines on offshore islands—rather than inside Iranian territory—could offer a loophole allowing Trump to claim he is keeping his promise not to deploy ground troops into Iran.

“I don’t see them going into Iran proper,” Miller said. “But deploying to surrounding islands in the Gulf could provide tactical advantages for a period of time.”

Potential Operation: A Daring Mission to Seize Nuclear Material

So far, the Trump administration has declined to disclose the exact purpose of deploying Marines to the Middle East. However, some sources suggest the president is considering another ground operation: seizing or destroying near weapons-grade nuclear material reportedly stored deep beneath a mountain in Isfahan.

According to The New York Times, “by any measure, this would be one of the boldest and riskiest military operations in modern U.S. history.” A major complication is that no one is certain where all the nuclear material is located.

If storage containers are breached, the released gas could be both toxic and radiologically destructive. If stored too closely together, there is also a risk of triggering a nuclear chain reaction.

Following extensive U.S. and Israeli strikes on its military infrastructure, Iran may now view its nuclear material as one of its final lines of defense.

George Perkovich of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said: “They need it more than ever—and are prepared to defend it.” He added that Iran appears to have carefully planned ahead of U.S.-Israeli operations, meaning Washington should assume Tehran has done the same for its nuclear storage sites.

U.S.-NATO Rift Over Strait of Hormuz Raises Questions About Alliance’s Future Under mounting pressure from the United States and President Donald Trump, NATO allies are facing a critical question: whether to commit forces to secure the Strait of Hormuz—or risk deepening fractures within the alliance. Tensions between Washington and its partners in NATO have intensified amid U.S. calls for support in safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz, as conflict in the Middle East escalates. Roots of the Dispute U.S. President Donald Trump (right) and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Photo: NATO). Iran’s targeting of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz—a vital corridor that carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply—has driven up energy prices, putting pressure on both the U.S. and global economies. In an initial appeal on March 14, Trump urged countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to deploy naval assets to help secure the waterway, according to CNN. A day later, he escalated his rhetoric, warning that NATO could face “a very bad future” if allies fail to assist in reopening the strait. “It is entirely reasonable that countries benefiting from this passage contribute to ensuring nothing bad happens there,” Trump told the Financial Times, adding that a lack of support “would be very bad for NATO’s future.” Allies Push Back European leaders have largely rejected Trump’s call for NATO involvement. A spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the conflict “has nothing to do with NATO,” emphasizing that the alliance is designed for territorial defense and lacks a legal basis for such a deployment. The United Kingdom echoed that stance. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said plainly: “This is not, and has never been considered, a NATO mission.” Starmer stressed that Britain would “not be drawn into a wider war,” though he noted ongoing discussions with the U.S. and regional partners about the potential use of mine-clearing drones already deployed in the area. Other allies have taken similar positions. Greece and Italy have ruled out participation, while Lithuania and Estonia have called for further clarification. Following the muted response, Trump said on March 17 that he was not surprised and accused NATO allies of making a “serious mistake.” “We no longer need, nor do we want, NATO’s assistance. In fact, we never did,” he wrote on Truth Social, adding that the U.S. does not require help from allies such as Japan, Australia, or South Korea. What Comes Next? The Strait of Hormuz (Photo: SANA). European economies are already feeling the strain of disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said gas prices have risen 50% and oil prices 27% since the conflict began. In just 10 days, European consumers have spent an additional €3 billion ($3.44 billion), she said. Despite economic and political pressure, analysts say NATO is unlikely to deploy forces to the region anytime soon. Charles Hecker of the Royal United Services Institute told Deutsche Welle that European nations are reluctant to commit troops due to the risk of becoming targets. Trump has specifically called on France and the U.K. to participate, but Hecker said both are unlikely to engage while active hostilities continue. “They are not ready to join U.S. military operations in the Strait of Hormuz and likely won’t be in the near term,” he said. Scott Anderson of the Brookings Institution described the situation as a “high-risk quagmire,” with concerns extending to potential domestic security threats. According to Anderson, European involvement may only come after active combat subsides, possibly in the form of maritime security or mine-clearing operations. Questions also remain about Washington’s next move, including whether the Trump administration could consider withdrawing from NATO. Analysts cited by Barron's say that scenario is unlikely. For now, NATO appears to be seeking a balance—easing tensions with Washington while avoiding immediate deployment. On March 18, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said allies are consulting on the best course of action. “From what I understand, allies are working together and discussing how to proceed and what the best solution is,” Rutte said. Another Vessel Ablaze in the Strait Separately, satellite imagery showed thick smoke rising from the Malta-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige as it drifted in the Strait of Hormuz, CNN reported on March 19. A container ship ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz on March 18 (Photo: European Space Agency). Images from the European Space Agency showed the vessel about 4.5 nautical miles northeast of Ra’s Makhbūq, Oman. The ship was reportedly struck by an “unidentified object” on March 4, causing a fire in its engine room, according to the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations agency. All crew members were safely evacuated. A warning issued by Pakistan National Hydrographic Office on March 18 said the vessel remained on fire.