U.S. Keeps 50,000 Troops in Middle East During 60-Day Iran Talks

The Trump administration will keep its current military force posture in the Middle East during a 60-day negotiation period with Iran. U.S. official stated on a call Monday that the plan is to keep the current force posture during the 60-day negotiations.

The administration hopes to draw down forces but is not doing so yet. The memorandum signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf extends the ceasefire between the United States and Iran. It establishes a 60-day negotiating window and seeks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The memorandum requires the Strait of Hormuz to remain open toll-free during the 60-day negotiating period. The Trump administration maintains roughly 50,000 troops deployed across the Middle East.

U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. U.S. force concentrations in the region in more than two decades.

The agreement contemplates the reduction of military forces in the region upon the agreement of a final deal. Officials said any sanctions relief, asset releases or future concessions would be tied to verification and Iranian performance, not promises alone. One senior official acknowledged the two sides remain in the early stages of building trust.

White House officials insisted Monday that no frozen Iranian assets have been released. One official said the very simple fact is, $0 of unfrozen assets have been released by the United States or any other country. Officials repeatedly stressed that future economic concessions would be earned through compliance rather than granted upfront.

The memorandum seeks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments normally pass. White House officials said the memorandum provides for the opening of the waterway and the lifting of the naval blockade.