Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has cautioned the United States against deploying naval escorts for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil transit route where shipping activity has been disrupted by the escalating Middle East conflict.
The warning was issued on Saturday by the Guards’ spokesman, Ali Mohammad Naini, who said Iranian forces were ready to respond if American warships moved into the strategic waterway to escort commercial vessels.
Naini urged Washington to reflect on past tanker incidents in the Gulf before making any decision on naval deployment.
“We are waiting for their presence,” he said, reacting to comments by the United States Department of Energy that the United States Navy was preparing to escort ships through the strait when conditions allow.
He also referenced previous tanker incidents in the region, including the 1987 attack on the supertanker SS Bridgeton during the Iran Iraq tanker war, warning that similar confrontations could occur.
The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, making it one of the world’s most important routes for global oil shipments.
Meanwhile, Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said the country would not surrender to pressure from Israel or the United States as the regional conflict entered its second week.
Speaking in a televised address broadcast on state television, Pezeshkian said Iran would continue to resist external pressure despite ongoing military strikes.
“Iran’s enemies must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves,” he said.
About The Author
