A spokesman for Iran’s beleaguered Revolutionary
Guards challenged US President Donald Trump to deploy US naval vessels to
escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported
on Friday.
The US Navy could begin escorting oil tankers
through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, Trump said on Tuesday.(3 Mar)The
conflict in the Middle East has halted shipping and energy exports through the vital Strait
of Hormuz.
Guards
spokesperson Alimohammad Naini said, "Iran strongly welcomes the escort of
oil tankers and that US forces will be there for the crossing of the Strait of
Hormuz. And we are, by the way, awaiting their presence," according to
state media.
"We recommend that, before making
any decision, the Americans remember the fire on the American supertanker Bridgeton in
1987 and the oil tankers that were recently targeted," Naini said
At least
nine vessels have been attacked since the US and Israel first began strikes on
Iran on Saturday and the Guards ordered ships not to cross the strategic
waterway.