UK sends the second warship to the Gulf following U.S.’ intervention in the Gulf Crisis after Iran’s threat
Tension has been escalating in the Gulf Sea since a Royal Navy Warship deterred Iranian patrol boats trying to impede a British Oil tanker. Now the UK is going to display its power by increasing its military presence in the Gulf by deploying a second warship in the region amid tensions.
HMS Duncan, a Type 45 Destroyer, will be sailing towards the Gulf in coming days after recently completing exercises with NATO in the Black Sea, and is soon to be expected in the tension amid region.
Duncan will operate jointly with the Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose, and US allies in the Gulf. The Ministry of Defense would not comment on the deployment, but it is obvious that Duncan was always due to give partial or full-time relief to HMS Montrose by sailing into the region. Now, its deployment has been brought earlier as a result of the escalating crisis with Iran.
Including HMS Montrose, the UK has five mine hunters permanently deployed in the region, and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship.
It all started after the senior Iranian religious scholar Kazem Sedighi’s warning that Britain will soon be “slapped in the face” for “daring” to capture an oil tanker last week off the coast of Gibraltar.
After Iran demanded the immediate release of the captured Oil Tanker Grace 1, Kazem warned the UK by stating, “This is a dangerous game and has consequences.”
The Grace 1 tanker was captured and seized last week after it was suspected of trading crude oil to Syria, which is a violation of EU sanctions.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has also threatened the UK to face “consequences” after the capture of its oil tanker.
British Prime Minister’s official spokesman has said discussions are under progress between UK and US about increasing their military presence in the Gulf Waters.
Meanwhile, Washington is asking allies to escalate their maritime security in the Gulf region to protect strategic waters off Iran.
Relations between the US and Iran have also been exacerbating since President Donald Trump’s decided to pull out the U.S. from a nuclear deal with Iran and re-imposed sanctions.
