The reported deployment comes as US President Donald Trump has alternated between threats and signs of possible negotiations with Tehran.

Reuters reported earlier that before the latest reinforcements, roughly 50,000 US troops were already stationed in the Middle East. 

Iran's deputy parliament speaker has dismissed US President Donald Trump's claims of ongoing negotiations with Tehran as evidence of confusion and what he called outright delusion.

Earlier, on March 27, Ali Nikzad, first deputy speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and representative for Ardabil, said Trump's assertions about talks with Iran stood in stark contrast to the position of every Iranian official, state-controlled Tasnim News Agency reported.

"While all officials in the country emphasise in their interviews that the fight will continue until victory is achieved, Trump's claim of negotiating with Islamic Iran is a clear example of his confusion and delusions," Nikzad said.

He said Iran's enemies had launched the conflict with specific objectives but had been thwarted by the armed forces and what he described as the resolute presence of the Iranian people.

Nikzad also took aim at regional countries hosting US forces, questioning what benefit they had gained from what he called their "dancing to America's tune."

"Countries that have opened their arms to American forces, what have they gained from their compliance?" he said. 

The deputy speaker said Iran had never sought to attack its neighbours and never would, but warned that Iran would return fire from any point it was attacked. "From wherever we are attacked, fire will be opened and a decisive response will be given to enemies," Nikzad said.