March 6 (Reuters) – A spokesperson for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards challenged U.S. President Donald Trump to deploy U.S. naval vessels to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported on Friday.
The U.S. Navy could begin escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, Trump said on Tuesday. The conflict in the Middle East has halted shipping and energy exports through the vital Strait of Hormuz.
* Guards spokesperson Alimohammad Naini said: “Iranstrongly welcomes the escort of oil tankers and that U.S. forceswill be there for the crossing of the Strait of Hormuz. And weare, by the way, awaiting their presence,” according to statemedia * “We recommend that, before making any decision, theAmericans remember the fire on the American supertankerBridgeton in 1987 and the oil tankers that were recentlytargeted,” Naini said * At least nine vessels have been attacked since the U.S. and Israel first began strikes on Iran on Saturday and the Guards ordered ships not to crossthe strategic waterway
(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; editing by Edward Tobin)