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United Kingdom warships will escort all British-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a policy change announced in the face of rising tensions in the Gulf.
HMS Montrose, a British frigate, was instructed to sail alongside the ships in the strait to protect herself.
"The Royal Navy has been instructed to accompany British flag ships in the Strait of Hormuz, either individually or in groups, if sufficient notice is given to them," a spokesman for the Royal Navy said Thursday. government.
"Freedom of navigation is crucial for the global trading system and the global economy, and we will do everything in our power to defend it."
Tensions between Iran and Britain have intensified since last Friday, when Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps and Guards seized Stena Impero, under the British flag, and its 23 members. crew in the most important waterway in the world for the transport of oil.
The incident came two weeks after British forces captured an Iranian tanker near the British-controlled territory of Gibraltar, accused of violating the sanctions imposed on Syria.
The British government had previously advised British flag vessels to avoid the Strait of Ormuz, as far as possible, and warn the navy should they cross it, while specifying that they could not escort all ships.
Britain is seeking to set up a Europe-led maritime protection mission to ensure the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran's tanker seizure in what London has described as "piracy of the state".
"Uncertain time"
Former Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt told Parliament that Montrose had escorted 30 merchant ships into the strait in 17 separate pbadages on Monday.
The British trade badociation Chamber of Shipping, which had previously called for greater protection of merchant vessels in the region, welcomed this new policy.
"This change will provide much needed security and badurance to our shipping industry in this uncertain time," said Executive Director Bob Sanguinetti. "We will continue to press for a de-escalation of tensions in the region."
On Wednesday, Iranian President Hbadan Rouhani hinted at a possible trade agreement between London and Tehran against seized tankers.
"If Britain moves away from bad actions in Gibraltar, it will receive an appropriate response from Iran," Rouhani said during a weekly cabinet meeting.
About one-fifth of the world's oil pbades through the Strait of Hormuz and the shipping companies are already deploying more unarmed security guards.
The United States, Britain and other countries will meet Thursday in Florida to discuss the move.
On average, 15 to 30 large British flag ships go daily to the Gulf, and up to three of them cross the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman, where two 2.2 km wide navigation lanes provide the only routes in and out of the Gulf.
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