U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. Navy would begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, amid rising tensions in the Gulf. In a social media post, Trump also said he had directed the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to provide political risk insurance and guarantees for maritime trade, particularly energy shipments transiting the region.
The move follows reports by Iranian media that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had closed the strategic waterway after U.S.-Israeli airstrikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior figures. Iran has since launched missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. military bases across the Middle East.
Credit : CGTN