UK Navy to resume escorting of UK-flagged vessels through Hormuz strait
(VOVWORLD) - Two Royal Navy warships, HMS Montrose and HMS Defender, will resume missions of escorting UK-flagged merchant ships into the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions between the US and Iran, UK Defense secretary Ben Wallace said Saturday.
 The HMS Montrose (Photo: AFP/Getty Images) |
He added that the government will do all necessary measures to protect UK ships and citizens.
Iran vowed revenge after the US ordered the execution of top general Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in an operation near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq, causing a swift escalation of tensions between the US and Iran.
Mr. Wallace said he had a phone talk with his US counterpart Mark Esper and called on parties to avoid escalation but the US has the right to protect its people against threats. The UK asked its citizens to restrict all but essential travel to Iraq and Iran.