A further 3,500 American troops have arrived in the Middle East, as the US continues to bolster its presence in the region during the war with Iran.
US Central Command (Centcom) said on X that the sailors and marines are part of a unit led by the warship USS Tripoli, which also includes assault and transport assets.
Its arrival came as the Washington Post reported that the Pentagon was preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran. US officials have not confirmed whether ground troops will be deployed.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that the country's forces were "waiting for American soldiers to enter on the ground so they can rain fire upon them".
In the message - which was reported by Iranian state media and marked 30 days since the war started - he also said "the enemy signals negotiation in public, while in secret it plots a ground attack".
