While Donald Trump continues to talk about peace deals, thousands of US troops are heading for the Middle East – raising questions about the President’s real objectives.

More than 3,000 Airborne and US Special Forces troops were preparing for operations on Iranian territory on Wednesday night, set to join 5,000 US Marines already closing in on the country.

The President is expected to order an invasion of the strategically significant Kharg Island, through which 90 per cent of Iranian oil is processed, should the proposed ‘deal’ fall through, having bought himself five days to move his pieces into position.

That could force Tehran to cease its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. However, it is believed the reports may be a deliberate distraction ahead of a possible alternative US plan to seal off Iranian nuclear facilities inside the country.

Last night, however, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the man most likely to be involved in peace talks, warned of ‘relentless attacks’ in the event of any invasion.

He said: ‘All enemy movements are under the full surveillance of our armed forces. If they step out of line, all the vital infrastructure of that regional country will, without restriction, become the target of relentless attacks.’

Meanwhile, former CIA Director John Brennan said he believed the Iranian regime over Trump.

Asked about disputes over whether the two sides were engaged in talks, he said: ‘I tend to believe Iran more than I do Donald Trump, because he could not acknowledge the truth even when he’s slapped in the face with it repeatedly.

‘And it’s clear that he is flailing right now. He’s trying to figure out how he’s going to get out of this debacle that he has created.’ 

Any invasion could take place as soon as this weekend when US Marines who have sailed from the Pacific are expected to arrive in the region.

The 82nd Airborne, based at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, specialises in rapid, high‑risk missions. Its Immediate Response Force (IRF) unit has around 3,000 soldiers who can be deployed anywhere in the world within 18 hours.

Marine Expeditionary Units could be launched from the USS Tripoli, which was based off Japan, and the USS Boxer amphibious assault ship, which sailed from California.

Seizing tiny Kharg Island, 20 miles from the Iranian coast, would offer Trump an opportunity to bargain with the regime. It is considered the most important piece of oil infrastructure in the region.

But last night US military commentators suggested any invasion would be symbolic rather than strategic, considering what could be achieved by airstrikes.

Former US Special Forces soldier Matt Tardio said: ‘The United States can isolate Kharg from the sky with A-10 bomber aircraft and Apache helicopter gunships operating freely over the Persian Gulf. Sending in troops to Kharg Island would be symbolic, stupid and certainly would not be advisable.’

Former US national security advisor John Bolton agreed taking Kharg Island would be about symbolism and politics.

He said: ‘I think President Trump has been looking for a way to get out and declare victory for some time, particularly after the Strait of Hormuz was closed.

‘It could be that the deadline given to Iran was intended to give time for US forces to get there.’

But it is feared the move could draw China into the conflict as the country is reliant on Iranian crude oil.