The Pentagon is weighing a significant reduction of its military presence in West Asia as the long-running conflict with Iran nears its conclusion.

According to officials cited by The Washington Post, the Department of War is conducting an analysis of its footprint in the region, though this has not yet been formalised into a full review.

The evaluation includes whether to rebuild bases that have been battered by months of Iranian strikes. A central question is whether to pull back troops from the Persian Gulf, where America’s large overseas facilities have suffered extensive damage. Officials described this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reconsider the scale of U.S. deployments in the region.

The Pentagon’s policy office is leading the assessment, with input from the Joint Staff and U.S. Central Command. A senior official, speaking anonymously, said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has not ordered a formal review but characterised the process as prudent planning that could shape future decisions on rebuilding damaged bases. “Decisions are going to have to be made on some of this stuff,” the official remarked.

At present, U.S. Central Command stations about 40,000 troops across nearly 20 sites spanning a 1,500-mile arc from Jordan to Oman. Since early this year, the military has surged warships, fighters, air defence systems and other assets to defend American forces, carrying out more than 13,000 strikes against Iran.

Regional allies have long depended on American forces for their defence. Any drawdown could leave them exposed to Iranian attacks, with domestic capability-building or partnerships with other powers likely to take years.

The issue is expected to intensify debate within the administration between those favouring continued interventions and those arguing for a shift in focus towards defending the homeland and deterring adversaries such as China.

Admiral Bradley Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, has been involved in the discussions and reportedly supports deliberations about moving troops westward from the Gulf. A spokesperson for CENTCOM declined to comment. Before the war began in February, many U.S. bases were evacuated due to vulnerability to Iranian missile and drone attacks. Some of these relocations may become permanent, according to officials familiar with the posture adjustments. “Iran thinks we are in the traditional places,” one source said. “And we are not.”

Nonetheless, multiple officials cautioned that permanent changes remain distant and would require approval from senior administration figures.

The Pentagon has estimated the war’s cost will reach about $37.5 billion by the end of September, not including the expense of rebuilding bases.

This reassessment of America’s military posture in the Gulf reflects both the heavy toll of the conflict and the broader strategic debate about U.S. commitments abroad.

ANI