Washington, November 20 (RHC)-- U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the deployment to Saudi Arabia of additional military forces, including troops, radar equipment and air defense systems with the aim of counteracting a potential "threat" from Iran.

In a letter to Congress, Trump has referred to the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces in the Middle East as a measure taken to "protect the interests of the United States and enhance the protection of force in the region against hostile action by Iran and its forces of power."

The U.S. president accused the Persian nation of "continuing to threaten the security of the region" and of the attack on the facilities of the Saudi state oil company on September 14, something that Tehran has denied on reiterated occasions. 

"With these additional forces, the total number of U.S. Armed Forces personnel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be approximately 3,000," Trump said, adding that "this personnel will remain deployed as long as their presence is required to carry out their missions.

The letter states that "the additional forces, ordered to be deployed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, include radar and missile systems to improve air and missile defenses in the region."  Also, an air expeditionary wing to support U.S. combat aircraft operation from Saudi Arabia, and two combat squadrons.

The U.S. president noted in the letter that the first part of these additional forces has already arrived in Saudi Arabia, and the remaining forces will arrive in the coming weeks.