Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan announced the deployment of “approximately 1,000 additional troops for defensive purposes to address air, naval and ground-based threats in the Middle East”. Shanahan went on to state that “recent Iranian attacks validate the reliable, credible intelligence we have received on hostile behaviour by Iranian forces and their proxy groups that threaten U.S. personnel and interests”. He added that “the U.S. does not seek conflict with Iran”. Earlier, the Pentagon had released new color photos of the 13 June tanker explosions in the Gulf of Oman, reiterating its assessment that Iran was involved in the incident.