"Too few ships": British ministers under fire for their defense in the Gulf | News from the world

British ministers are expected to face tough questions about the decision to seize an Iranian oil tanker two weeks ago, without ensuring that it could protect British-owned ships in the Strait of D & # 39; 39; Hormuz.

Iran seized on Friday two tankers – one registered in the UK, the other in Liberia, but owned by a company with offices in Glasgow – in the Strait, the most important waterway. frequented the world, carrying up to 17 million barrels of crude per year. day.

Iranian forces released the Liberian-flagged ship, the Mesdar, after a few hours, but still held Stena Impero on Friday night. Tehran is currently demanding the release of the Iranian tanker Grace 1, arrested by British forces two weeks ago off Gibraltar.

Although there are no Iranian citizens arrested at Grace 1 nor British citizens at Stena Impero, critics have already wondered whether the UK is confronting Iran knowing that the tracks navigable gulfs were not adequately monitored.

Lord West, former head of the Royal Navy, said that the UK should not "claim we are surprised" by the Stena Impero incident. He told Sky News, "What I find extraordinary is that we knew that the Iranians would try something like that a few days ago.

"I'm absolutely amazed that we have not put in place some kind of red flag navigation control in the area, no tanker going to a clearly dangerous area without an escort, and I find it odd that we seem have the ships doing exactly that. "

West said the British navy had "too few ships" and would find it "extremely difficult" to provide escorts for merchant ships.

Every day, between 15 and 30 British-flagged tankers cross the strait. There are seven Royal Navy ships in the area, along with Royal Marines, responsible for protecting the force in the Gulf. The British presence includes a Type 23 frigate, HMS Montrose, which must be joined and replaced by a Type 45, HMS Duncan.

In addition, there are four mine countermeasures – HMS Ledbury, HMS Blyth, HMS Brocklesby and HMS Shoreham – and a mooring badistant, RFA Cardigan Bay. HMS Kent will take over from HMS Duncan later in the year.