Iran's Guards challenges Trump to have US Navy escort oil tankers in Strait of Hormuz

[vanessa_ca]

Source: Reuters

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: "Iran strongly welcomes the escort ​of oil tankers and that U.S. ​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 U.S. and Israel first began ⁠strikes ​on Iran on Saturday and ​the Guards ordered ships not to cross the strategic waterway




Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/irans-guards-challenges-trump-have-us-navy-escort-oil-tankers-strait-hormuz-2026-03-06/

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“Greatest Magnificent Best War Ever”

[Klarkashton]

1. This isnt going to be six weeks or six months....

[moniss]

2. Yes and Nasser showed the world in 1956

that things can be done that will have major impact. When the West mucked around with him about control of the Suez Canal he sank 40 ships for the purpose of blocking up the canal. It remained closed for about 6 months. The shipping channels in the Strait of Hormuz is narrow and only about 2 miles wide for each the inbound and outbound shipping lanes. Iran could sink their own ships if they chose and things would come to a halt.

[sarisataka]

3. Ridiculous

the Suez Canal is roughly 300m wide and 24m deep

The shipping lanes of the Strait are 6400m wide and can be over 700m deep.

It would take sinking thousands of ships to attempt to block the Strait of Hormuz

[moniss]

5. The combination of mines and ships would do just fine and

6400 meters doesn't take thousands of ships unless they are row boats and canoes. Furthermore each lane in and out is listed as 2 miles wide. That's 10, 560 feet whereas 6400 meters is 20,997 feet. Also you don't need to completely block across since ships and escorts need space as well. Apparently your assumption is that unless the entire span is blocked then ships could get through. No captain is going to try and take an elephant through a keyhole.

[sarisataka]

6. You are not taking depth into account

Even if we assume an average depth of 200m, the sunken ships would be far too deep to have any effect on surface traffic. Sinking ships in the Strait would not block a single inch of the sea lanes.

Mines would be the only reasonable passive method to block traffic. Additionally, the US Navy is shamefully weak when it comes to mine countermeasures.

[James48]

9. The range is a Chinese Silkworm missile

Is more than the distance across the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran can easily hit a tanker, or a Destroyer. We have only so much ammo to defend with. Once we are out of standard missiles, we’re screwed.

[IronLionZion]

4. They could plant mines all over the place

[Stryst]

8. And they have the stockpile to do it.

Plus a fleet of fast attack ships and subs than can all deploy mines.

[Stryst]

7. And here come the mines...

Iran has a stockpile of about five or six thousand sea mines, specifically for mining the straight. And they have submarines to deploy them.

This will be many times worse than Iraq.