PANews reported on March 13 that, according to the Wall Street Journal, two U.S. officials stated that the Pentagon is considering sending more warships to the Middle East to prepare for escorting oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. One official said that U.S. Central Command has requested additional destroyers and Marine Corps vessels to help protect merchant ships attempting to pass through the strait. U.S. officials indicated that even with the deployment of additional warships, U.S. forces will not immediately begin escort operations; the threat from Iran must first be reduced. This process could take a month or even longer.