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Jeremy Hunt pledges to reverse cuts to Navy amid Iran row Iran warns UK tanker seizure 'dangerous game'
(32 minutes later)
Jeremy Hunt has promised to reverse cuts to the size of the Royal Navy if he becomes prime minister. Iran has reiterated calls for the UK to release an Iranian-owned oil tanker which was detained by Royal Marines in Gibraltar last week.
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. An Iran official, speaking to state news agency IRNA, warned the UK not to get involved in "this dangerous game".
Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Hunt said events in the Gulf showed the navy needed more warships. It comes after the UK government said Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker in the Gulf on Wednesday.
The Tory leadership hopeful has already pledged to boost defence spending by £15bn over the next five years. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said events in the Gulf showed the Royal Navy needs more warships.
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 leadership hopeful has vowed to reverse cuts to the navy if he becomes PM.
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 relationship between the UK and Iran has become increasingly strained in recent weeks.
The pair will face one-on-one interviews with Andrew Neil later, which will be broadcast on BBC One at 19:00 BST. Last week Royal Marines helped the authorities in Gibraltar seize the Iranian-owned tanker Grace 1 amid suspicions it was carrying oil to Syria, in breach of EU sanctions.
Mr Hunt said there was "incredible menace" behind Iran's actions in the Gulf. Iran has suggested the UK seized the tanker "at the behest of" the US government "in line with America's hostile policies".
Foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said: "This is a dangerous game and we advise them not get involved in this game under America's influence."
He added: "We ask them again to release the tanker immediately, which will be in all countries' interest."
Iran previously claimed the tanker was not bound for Syria and threatened to seize a British oil tanker in retaliation, if the tanker was not released.
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.
HMS Montrose is currently the only frigate in the Gulf providing protection to British merchant shipping, amid growing tensions in the region. Iran denied any involvement in the attempted seizure.
The relationship between the UK and Iran has become increasingly strained after Britain said the Iranian regime was "almost certainly" responsible for attacks on two oil tankers in June. 'Incredible menace'
Tensions escalated again last week after British Royal Marines helped the authorities in Gibraltar seize an Iranian tanker because of evidence which suggested it was carrying oil to Syria, in breach of EU sanctions. Tensions escalated between the two countries after Britain said the Iranian regime was "almost certainly" responsible for attacks on two oil tankers in June.
Iran claimed the tanker, Grace 1, was not bound for Syria and called for it to be released. An Iranian official said a British oil tanker should be seized in retaliation, if Grace 1 was not released.
Iran later summoned the British ambassador in Tehran to complain about what it said was a "form of piracy". His comments were dismissed as "nonsense" by the UK Foreign Office.
The ongoing imprisonment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is also a long-standing bone of contention between the two countries.The ongoing imprisonment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is also a long-standing bone of contention between the two countries.
The UK continues to press Iran to release the British-Iranian mother who was jailed for five years in 2016 after being convicted for spying, which she denies.The UK continues to press Iran to release the British-Iranian mother who was jailed for five years in 2016 after being convicted for spying, which she denies.
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. Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Hunt promised to reverse cuts to the size of the Royal Navy. He has previously 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.
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.
Mr Hunt said there was "incredible menace" behind Iran's actions in the Gulf.
He 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.