Conservatives have condemned Iran’s hostile actions in the Gulf and the Government has announced it will establish a new maritime security force to protects UK ships from Iranian piracy in the Straits of Hormuz.
The UK Government announced on Thursday that the Royal Navy will escort British-flagged ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, the Government said: “Freedom of navigation is crucial for the global trading system and world economy, and we will do all we can to defend it. The Department for Transport has therefore updated its advice to confirm that the Royal Navy has been tasked to accompany British-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz, either individually or in groups, should sufficient notice be given of their passage”.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the type-23 frigate HMS Montrose has already escorted two merchant vessels travelling together through the Strait. The type-45 destroyer, HMS Duncan, is expected to arrive in the region next week and ensure a constant UK naval presence in the Gulf.
On Friday, a UK-flagged oil tanker, the Stena Impero, was surrounded by four Iranian vessels and a helicopter, before being impounded by Iranian forces. The seizure is believed to be a retaliation for the UK seizure of the Iranian Grace 1 super-tanker off the Straits of Gibraltar, for carrying Iranian oil bound for Syria in violation of EU sanctions.
In a statement on Monday in the House of Commons, then-Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP said: “Because freedom of navigation is a vital interest of every nation, we will now seek to put together a European-led maritime protection mission to support safe passage of both crew and cargo in this vital region”.
A number of Conservative MPs responded to the statement to condemn Iran’s actions.
James Morris MP asked the Foreign Secretary: “Does he agree that this act of piracy represents a pattern of behaviour from the Iranians, both directly and through its proxies, in an overall strategy to achieve regional hegemony in the Middle East?”
He added: “What we urgently need is a strategy that restores balance, so the Iranians cannot take advantage of our strategic weaknesses”.
Read the full transcript here.
