Royal Navy on high alert for Iran threat to British merchant ships amid ‘critical’ security level
By: Guy Faulconbridge - INews - 7-11-19
RE:
https://inews.co.uk/news/world/royal...e-gulf-region/
It has emerged that Britain had raised its ship security level to 3, the highest category, for British-flagged ships in Iranian waters
Photo link:
https://images-i.jpimedia.uk/imagefe...afp_1il8a0.jpg
On any given day there are about 15 to 30 large British-flagged ships in the Gulf area (Photo: HO/ MOD / AFP)
The Royal Navy will not escort every British-flagged merchant vessel through the Strait of Hormuz, a security source said – despite a warship having to warn off three Iranian vessels from blocking the passage of a BP-operated tanker and British vessels being warned of a “critical” security risk.
On any given day there are about 15 to 30 large British-flagged ships in the Gulf area, with up to three passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
But Britain does not wish to further escalate tensions by having a warship accompany every one of its tankers close to Iranian waters, it is claimed.
Exactly a week after Britain seized an Iranian tanker accused of violating sanctions on Syria, the UK said the British Heritage tanker operated by oil company BP had been approached in the strait, the main outlet for Middle Eastern oil.
“HMS Montrose was forced to position herself between the Iranian vessels and British Heritage and issue verbal warnings to the Iranian vessels, which then turned away,” a UK Government spokesman said.
It emerged that Britain had raised its ship security level to 3, the highest category, for British-flagged ships in Iranian waters.
“Level 3 for shipping (security) would be comparable to ‘critical’ and that is where there is a much-heightened risk… ,” the British source said. “We went to level 3 for Iranian waters at the start of this week.
“We will be resolute in defending UK maritime interests in the Gulf but we have absolutely no interest in escalating the situation with Iran” the source added.
Britain has urged Iran to “de-escalate the situation in the region”.
‘Critical’ security level
2nd photo link:
https://images-i.jpimedia.uk/imagefe...19/06/oman.jpg
An Iranian navy boat tries to control fire on the Front Altair tanker (Photo: AFP/Getty)
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif dismissed as “worthless” the allegation that Iran sought to block the ship.
But the US blames Iran for a series of attacks on shipping in the world’s most important oil artery since mid-May, accusations Tehran rejects.
The foes came as close as ever to direct military conflict last month, when Iran shot down a US drone and Donald Trump ordered retaliatory air strikes, only to call them off minutes before impact.
Diplomatic crisis
Britain stepped into the crisis when its Royal Marines seized the Iranian tanker Grace 1 off the coast of Gibraltar last week.
Iranian officials have since been quoted as suggesting that Iran might retaliate.
Although EU states have not followed Washington in imposing sanctions on Iran, they have forbidden selling oil to Iran’s ally Syria.
Police in Gibraltar have arrested the captain and chief officer of the detained Iranian supertanker accused of violating EU sanctions on Syria and seized documents and electronic devices from the ship.
REUTERS