Pentagon Weighs Reducing Persian Gulf Presence After Iranian Strikes

The United States Department of Defense is evaluating a reduction and repositioning of its military presence in the Persian Gulf following a conflict with Iran that began in February 2026. The hostilities were triggered by a joint U.S. and Israeli attack on February 28 that killed Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Iranian forces launched missile and drone strikes that damaged or destroyed more than 200 U.S. facilities and killed at least 18 service members, including six in a March strike at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.

Under Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. has conducted over 13,000 strikes against Iran, with war costs projected at $37.5 billion by late September, excluding $5 billion for base repairs. The conflict has severely depleted munitions, including a quarter of the MQ-9 Reaper drone fleet and significant stockpiles of precision missiles and air-defense interceptors. While a memorandum of understanding to end hostilities was signed in June, disputes over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz have stalled negotiations.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not ordered a formal force posture review, but the Pentagon's policy office, the Joint Staff, and U.S. Central Command are conducting what they call prudent planning. Officials are considering moving troops and equipment westward to Jordan, Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast, or Israel's Ovda Airbase to reduce vulnerability. However, some administration officials oppose relocating assets to Israel due to counterintelligence concerns regarding espionage. The deliberations reflect a broader internal divide between those favoring a continued regional presence and those advocating for a strategic shift toward domestic defense and countering China.