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Iran tanker row: UK to send second warship to the Gulf | |
(32 minutes later) | |
The UK has brought forward plans to send a second warship to the Gulf amid rising tensions with Iran. | |
HMS Duncan is currently in the Mediterranean and is expected to join HMS Montrose in the region next week. | |
It comes after the UK government said Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker in the Gulf on Wednesday. | It comes after the UK government said Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker in the Gulf on Wednesday. |
Meanwhile, Iran has reiterated calls for the UK to release an Iranian-owned oil tanker which was detained by Royal Marines in Gibraltar last week. | |
An Iranian official, speaking to state news agency IRNA, warned the UK not to get involved in "this dangerous game". | |
The relationship between the UK and Iran has become increasingly strained in recent weeks. | The relationship between the UK and Iran has become increasingly strained in recent weeks. |
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. | |
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 denied any involvement in the attempted seizure. | |
HMS Duncan, a type 45 Destroyer, will operate alongside HMS Montrose in the Gulf for a short period, before HMS Montrose goes back to Bahrain for routine maintenance. | |
A government spokeswoman said: "As part of our long-standing presence in the Gulf, HMS Duncan is deploying to the region to ensure we maintain a continuous maritime security presence while HMS Montrose comes off task for pre-planned maintenance and crew changeover. | |
"This will ensure that the UK, alongside international partners, can continue to support freedom of navigation for vessels transiting through this vital shipping lane." | |
British ministers and officials have been stressing they do not want tensions with Iran to "escalate". | |
The risk of sending a second warship to the region is that it'll send the wrong signal. How will Iran view it other than an "escalation"? | |
The reality though is there were already plans to send Duncan to join the frigate HMS Montrose already based in the region. | |
Montrose has been working hard and is due to undergo routine maintenance. Her crew who have been working at a heightened tempo in recent weeks will also need a break. | |
Both warships will be operating together in the region for a short period. But in the current climate ministers clearly felt it was too risky to allow a gap in providing a military escort to British merchant shipping in the region. | |
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. | |
Iran has suggested the UK seized the tanker "at the behest of" the US government "in line with America's hostile policies". | 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." | 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." | 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. | 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. |
Senior Iran cleric Kazem Sedighi was reported by Iranian state TV as saying: "The British will soon get a slap from the strong arms of our establishment for their daring, reckless and negligent act that will make them regret it for good." | Senior Iran cleric Kazem Sedighi was reported by Iranian state TV as saying: "The British will soon get a slap from the strong arms of our establishment for their daring, reckless and negligent act that will make them regret it for good." |
Tensions escalated between the UK and Iran after Britain said the Iranian regime was "almost certainly" responsible for attacks on two oil tankers in June. | Tensions escalated between the UK and Iran after Britain said the Iranian regime was "almost certainly" responsible for attacks on two oil tankers in June. |
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. |
Relations between Iran and the US are also under duress, after the Trump administration pulled out of an international agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme and reinforced punishing sanctions against Iran. | Relations between Iran and the US are also under duress, after the Trump administration pulled out of an international agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme and reinforced punishing sanctions against Iran. |
The US blames Iran for attacks on six oil tankers in May and June. | The US blames Iran for attacks on six oil tankers in May and June. |
It has said it wants to create an multi-national military coalition to safeguard waters around Iran and Yemen. | It has said it wants to create an multi-national military coalition to safeguard waters around Iran and Yemen. |
The US said it was talking to a number of countries with the "political will" to support the plans, which would include providing boats to escort commercial ships through the area. | The US said it was talking to a number of countries with the "political will" to support the plans, which would include providing boats to escort commercial ships through the area. |
Providing armed naval escorts for commercial shipping is expensive, time-consuming and requires a fair degree of logistical planning and coordination between different countries. | Providing armed naval escorts for commercial shipping is expensive, time-consuming and requires a fair degree of logistical planning and coordination between different countries. |
It's been done before in the Gulf, in the late 1980s, when the US Navy escorted Kuwaiti oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq war. | It's been done before in the Gulf, in the late 1980s, when the US Navy escorted Kuwaiti oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq war. |
More recently, several navies have provided escorts for shipping passing between Yemen and Somalia, protecting them from attacks by Somali pirates. | More recently, several navies have provided escorts for shipping passing between Yemen and Somalia, protecting them from attacks by Somali pirates. |
But, ultimately, these military escorts can only be a temporary remedy for a much deeper problem that needs resolving. | But, ultimately, these military escorts can only be a temporary remedy for a much deeper problem that needs resolving. |
If tightening sanctions on Iran prevent that country from exporting most of its oil then the temptation by its senior commanders to lash out in response will only grow stronger. | If tightening sanctions on Iran prevent that country from exporting most of its oil then the temptation by its senior commanders to lash out in response will only grow stronger. |
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said events in the Gulf showed the Royal Navy needs more warships. | |
The Tory leadership hopeful said there was "incredible menace" behind Iran's actions in the Gulf. | |
Writing in the Telegraph, he promised to reverse cuts to the size of the Royal Navy if he becomes prime minister. | |
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'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. |