The United States evaluates sending 120,000 troops to the Middle East by the tension with Iran

US Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan presented a plan last week to deploy up to 120,000 US troops in the Middle East in the face of escalating tension with Iran and in case the Persian regime attacks Washington's forces in the region to accelerate the development of its nuclear weaponsreported on Monday The New York Times.

Shanahan acting in the position after the resignation of Jim Mattis, He presented the plan at a meeting last Thursday that included the US president's senior advisers on national security., Donald Trump, although it is not clear if the president has been informed, according to Time.

Among those who attended the meeting, there was John Bolton, National Councilor for Security at the White House, that since joining Trump's circle of trust, he has promoted a policy of confrontation with Tehran.

The plan does not provide for an invasion of Iran, which would require more troops, according to the New York newspaper. Whatever the case may be, the number of 120,000 soldiers has surprised many since it is the same number used in 2003 during the invasion of Iraq.

"If they do anything, it will be a very serious mistake. This will be a very serious problem for Iran if anything happens, I can tell you. They will not be happy, " Trump answered a question about increasing tensions in the Persian Gulf.

Since arriving at the White House two years ago, Trump has opted to promised strategy in the campaign to withdraw US troops from Middle Eastern countries, such as Syria and Afghanistan.

The tension in the Persian Gulf has, however, increased since Washington announced Last April, the end of exemptions granted to eight nations or territories to continue buying oil from Iran.

As a consequence, the Iranian authorities have threatened to block the strategic strait of Ormuz, which crosses much of the world's oil, if the sanctions imposed by the United States after the withdrawal of the 2015 nuclear agreement hinder its oil exports, vital to the country's economy.

The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini, on Monday asked the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to go to Brussels, "maximum containment and avoid any escalation of the military side "with Iran.