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BRITAIN-IRAN-US-DIPLOMACY-TANKER
UK warship arrives in Gulf to escort tankers
LONDON, July 29, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A British warship dispatched to the Gulf
to escort UK-flagged ships amid heightened tensions with Iran has arrived in
the region, the defence ministry said.
HMS Duncan was sent to help accompany vessels through the Strait of Hormuz
after Iran seized a British-flagged tanker there earlier this month, in what
London called an act of “state piracy”.
The destroyer joins frigate HMS Montrose which is due to undergo
maintenance in nearby Bahrain in late August. It will be replaced by another
frigate, HMS Kent, later this year.
Britain has said it wants to establish a European-led maritime protection
force in the Gulf to protect vulnerable shipping, while emphasising it is not
seeking a confrontation with Iran.
It has asked UK-flagged ships to give it notice when they plan to pass
through the Strait of Hormuz, with HMS Montrose already having accompanied 35
merchant vessels during 20 separate transits, according to the Royal Navy.
“I’m pleased that HMS Duncan will continue HMS Montrose’s fine work in
helping to secure this essential route,” Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said
in a statement on Sunday.
“While we continue to push for a diplomatic resolution that will make this
possible again without military accompaniment, the Royal Navy will continue
to provide a safeguard for UK vessels until this is the reality.”
Tensions have been escalating in the region for weeks, with US President
Donald Trump last month calling off at the last minute an air strike on Iran
over its downing of a US spy drone.
Tehran has suggested the July 19 seizing of the tanker was in retaliation
for UK Royal Marines helping Gibraltar authorities detain an Iranian tanker
in the Mediterranean Sea two weeks earlier.
Britain said it had acted then because Iran was trying to deliver oil to
Syria in violation of separate sets of EU and US sanctions.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1444 hrs