Second Royal Navy ship arrives in Gulf as ‘safeguard’

The UK’s new defence secretary, Ben Wallace, says the arrival of a second Royal Navy vessel within the Gulf will act as “a safeguard” for UK-flagged vessels within the area, because the stand-off over Iran’s seizure of a British flagged oil tanker continues.

Mr Wallace was talking on Sunday as HMS Duncan joined HMS Montrose within the area, the place Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized the Stena Impero on July 19.

The UK made it clear on Thursday that it meant to escort UK-flagged vessels by means of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, overturning its earlier recommendation that UK vessels ought to keep away from transits by means of the realm.

The arrival of the UK’s second warship within the area comes after the British authorities pledged to type a world maritime job pressure to assist shield business transport pursuits within the Gulf.

Since Boris Johnson turned prime minister final week and changed international secretary and Conservative get together management rival Jeremy Hunt with Dominic Raab, it’s not clear what progress has been made by the UK in persuading European companions to hitch the alliance.

Nonetheless there have been indicators of progress on Sunday in talks in Vienna geared toward rescuing the Joint Complete Plan of Motion (JCPOA), the worldwide accord meant to rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The tensions that led to the Impero’s seizure stem partly from the choice by the US below Donald Trump to desert the JCPOA, negotiated below Barack Obama, Mr Trump’s predecessor.

Iran’s seizure of the Stena Impero has been extensively seen as retaliation for the detention by Gibraltar, a British territory, on July four of the Grace I, an Iranian tanker that the UK authorities have mentioned was carrying oil to Syria in breach of sanctions. Iran has accused the UK of finishing up US directions by seizing the Grace I.

HMS Duncan will function alongside HMS Montrose till late August, when HMS Montrose must endure refurbishment work.

Mr Wallace mentioned he was happy the Sort 45 destroyer would proceed HMS Montrose’s “fantastic work” in serving to to safe the “important route” for ships by means of the Strait of Hormuz into and out of the Gulf.

Mr Wallace mentioned: “Whereas we proceed to push for a diplomatic decision that may make this attainable once more with out army accompaniment, the Royal Navy will proceed to supply a safeguard for UK vessels till that is the truth,” Mr Wallace mentioned.

HMS Montrose has to this point accompanied 35 vessels by means of the strait, in line with the MoD.

The talks in Vienna concerned Iran and the deal’s remaining signatories — Russia, the UK, Germany, France and China.

The accord was supposed to learn Iran by opening up worldwide commerce however has been below stress since Mr Trump withdrew the US from the settlement final yr. In retaliation, Iran in current weeks has breached the boundaries on the quantities of enriched uranium it’s allowed to carry below the JCPOA.

After a gathering on Sunday, the remaining signatories agreed with Iran to their “dedication to preserving the JCPOA and intention to chorus from additional escalation,” the Russian international ministry mentioned in a press release.

The events concerned agreed that work on two initiatives agreed below the JCPOA — to improve Iran’s nuclear amenities in Fordo and Arak — would proceed, the ministry added.