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| Jeremy Hunt pledges to reverse cuts to Navy amid Iran row | Jeremy Hunt pledges to reverse cuts to Navy amid Iran row |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Jeremy Hunt has promised to reverse cuts to the size of the Royal Navy if he becomes prime minister. | Jeremy Hunt has promised to reverse cuts to the size of the Royal Navy if he becomes prime minister. |
| It comes after the Ministry of Defence said Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker in the Gulf - before being driven off by a Royal Navy ship. | It comes after the Ministry of Defence said Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker in the Gulf - before being driven off by a Royal Navy ship. |
| Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Hunt said events in the Gulf showed the navy needed more warships. | Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Hunt said events in the Gulf showed the navy needed more warships. |
| The Tory leadership hopeful has already pledged to boost defence spending by £15bn over the next five years. | |
| The foreign secretary said the Royal Navy had been "run down" over recent decades and he would review the size of the current fleet of 19 frigates and destroyers. | The foreign secretary said the Royal Navy had been "run down" over recent decades and he would review the size of the current fleet of 19 frigates and destroyers. |
| Mr Hunt's leadership rival, Boris Johnson, has also committed to increasing the UK's defence budget, but BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said his plans appeared more modest. | |
| The pair will face one-on-one interviews with Andrew Neil later, which will be broadcast on BBC One at 19:00 BST. | The pair will face one-on-one interviews with Andrew Neil later, which will be broadcast on BBC One at 19:00 BST. |
| Mr Hunt said there was "incredible menace" behind Iran's actions in the Gulf. | Mr Hunt said there was "incredible menace" behind Iran's actions in the Gulf. |
| On Tuesday, the UK raised the threat to British shipping in Iranian waters in the Gulf to the highest level - where the risk of attack is critical. | On Tuesday, the UK raised the threat to British shipping in Iranian waters in the Gulf to the highest level - where the risk of attack is critical. |
| The following day, boats believed to belong to Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the British Heritage tanker and tried to bring it to a halt as it was moving out of the Gulf into the Strait of Hormuz. | The following day, boats believed to belong to Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the British Heritage tanker and tried to bring it to a halt as it was moving out of the Gulf into the Strait of Hormuz. |
| HMS Montrose, a British frigate shadowing the BP-owned tanker, was forced to move between the three boats and the ship, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said. | HMS Montrose, a British frigate shadowing the BP-owned tanker, was forced to move between the three boats and the ship, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said. |
| Iran had previously threatened to retaliate for the seizure of one of its own tankers, but denied being involved in any attempted seizure. | Iran had previously threatened to retaliate for the seizure of one of its own tankers, but denied being involved in any attempted seizure. |
| Last week, British Royal Marines helped the authorities in Gibraltar seize an Iranian tanker because of evidence it was carrying oil to Syria in breach of EU sanctions. | Last week, British Royal Marines helped the authorities in Gibraltar seize an Iranian tanker because of evidence it was carrying oil to Syria in breach of EU sanctions. |
| HMS Montrose is currently the only frigate in the Gulf providing protection to British merchant shipping, amid growing tensions in the region. | HMS Montrose is currently the only frigate in the Gulf providing protection to British merchant shipping, amid growing tensions in the region. |
| Mr Hunt said investment in defence was needed in the face of new threats, such as cyber-attacks, and "to send a strong signal about Britain's role in the world" as it left the European Union. | Mr Hunt said investment in defence was needed in the face of new threats, such as cyber-attacks, and "to send a strong signal about Britain's role in the world" as it left the European Union. |
| Increasing defence spending would also "keep the Atlantic alliance strong" by demonstrating to the US that the UK is "stepping up to its commitments on defence", he added. | Increasing defence spending would also "keep the Atlantic alliance strong" by demonstrating to the US that the UK is "stepping up to its commitments on defence", he added. |
| He said he also wanted to see more fast jets on Britain's two new aircraft carriers, which he described as "a vital tool for projecting power". | He said he also wanted to see more fast jets on Britain's two new aircraft carriers, which he described as "a vital tool for projecting power". |
| The UK is one of the few European members of Nato to reach the current target for defence spending of 2% of GDP - but Mr Hunt has pledged to boost this to 2.5% by 2023-24 if he becomes prime minister. | The UK is one of the few European members of Nato to reach the current target for defence spending of 2% of GDP - but Mr Hunt has pledged to boost this to 2.5% by 2023-24 if he becomes prime minister. |
| It comes amid growing tensions between the US and Iran, after the Trump administration pulled out of an international agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme and reinforced punishing sanctions against Iran. | It comes amid growing tensions between the US and Iran, after the Trump administration pulled out of an international agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme and reinforced punishing sanctions against Iran. |