UK Royal Navy to protect ships in Persian Gulf

London: The UK’s Royal Navy warships have been ordered to escort British-flagged vessels in the Persian Gulf, in the wake of the death of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Saturday that the Navy’s HMS Montrose and HMS Defender will accompany UK-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz, as they did between July and November following the seizure of a British-flagged tanker by Iran, the BBC reported.

Wallace said that he had spoken to his US counterpart, Mark Esper, on Friday and urged all parties to de-escalate the situation.

“Under international law the US is entitled to defend itself against those posing an imminent threat to its citizens,” he added.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who will travel to Washington on Thursday to meet US counterpart Mike Pompeo, said in a TV interview on Sunday morning that the UK was working with “our European and American friends” to try and “de-escalate and stabilise the situation”.

Raab said he had already spoken with Iraq’s President and Prime minister, and will also “reach out” to Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Asked whether the US was right to order the killing of Gen Soleimani, Raab said the UK understands the position Washington was in. “The US will take their own operational judgement call. They have got the right of self-defence,” he added. (IANS)

Also read US Failed to Form a Coalition in Persian Gulf, says Mohamed Javad Zarif

Also Watch: Anti-CAA protests: Tinsukia District Congress demands release of party workers