The United States intensified pressure on Iran on Wednesday, combining a large-scale military deployment with a naval blockade, as President Donald Trump signaled that peace talks with Tehran could resume within days.

The Pentagon is sending thousands of additional troops to the Middle East as part of a broader effort to force Iran toward a deal that could end the weeks-long conflict. The move comes alongside a maritime blockade that Washington says has cut off Iran’s seaborne trade.

The incoming forces include approximately 6,000 troops aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, accompanied by several escorting warships.

An additional 4,200 personnel from the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and its embarked Marine Corps task force, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are expected to arrive near the end of the month.

U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for her reluctance to support the ongoing war involving Iran, in remarks published Tuesday.

In an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Trump expressed disappointment with Meloni, a close political ally.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) announced on Tuesday that a shipment of life-saving medical supplies has entered Iran, marking the first such delivery since the outbreak of war.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni announced on Tuesday the suspension of the automatic renewal of Italy's defense cooperation agreement with Israel.

The decision affects a 2003 Memorandum of Understanding that facilitates the exchange of military material and technological research.

Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has formally notified Israeli authorities of the move, which Meloni attributed to the "current situation" in the Middle East. 

The suspension follows months of domestic protests and Meloni's previous statements at the UN regarding the violation of humanitarian norms.

Additionally, reports indicate Italy recently denied the U.S. use of the Sigonella base for combat missions related to the regional war, further signaling Rome's strategic shift toward de-escalation and a reassessment of its military ties with Jerusalem.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Monday issued a detailed advisory warning mariners of sweeping maritime access restrictions affecting Iranian ports and coastal areas, following the enforcement of a U.S.-led naval blockade.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned Monday that American forces would destroy any Iranian “fast attack ships” approaching a newly imposed U.S. naval blockade on Iran, as tensions sharply escalate following failed peace talks.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said any such vessels nearing the blockade would be “immediately eliminated,” adding that Iran’s conventional navy had been largely destroyed during recent hostilities.

Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Monday called on the United States and Iran to press ahead with negotiations to end the ongoing Middle East conflict and restore safe passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Russia has withdrawn nearly all of its personnel from Iran’s only nuclear power facility, the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, citing growing security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.

Iran’s military has condemned an announced US naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic as “illegal” and an act of “piracy,” warning that any threat to Iranian port security could endanger shipping across the wider Gulf and Arabian Sea.

In a statement issued by the Islamic Republic’s military central command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, and broadcast on state television, Tehran said the planned restrictions on maritime navigation constitute a violation of international law.

“The restrictions imposed by criminal America on maritime navigation and transit in international waters are illegal and constitute an example of piracy,” the statement said.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it will begin enforcing a maritime blockade on all ships entering or exiting Iranian ports starting April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, following a presidential directive, marking a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran.

According to the statement issued from Tampa, Florida, the blockade will apply to vessels of all nationalities operating in Iranian territorial waters, including ports along the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

CENTCOM emphasized that enforcement will be carried out “impartially,” signaling a broad operational scope that could disrupt commercial shipping linked to Iran.