The Ministry of Defence is deploying the British warship HMS Dragon to the Middle East in preparation to protect ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The Type 45 destroyer will pre-position in the region, ready to join the UK and French-led initiative once hostilities cease between Iran and US-Israeli forces.
Ceasefire Remains Fragile
A fragile ceasefire remains in place, although attacks on Friday saw US forces strike two Iranian tankers that attempted to breach the blockade imposed by Donald Trump.
Multinational Mission
The proposed mission, championed by Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, would involve a coalition of nations willing to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait. This vital route is critical for global oil and gas supplies, along with other goods including fertiliser.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman stated: 'We can confirm that HMS Dragon will deploy to the Middle East to pre-position ahead of any future multinational mission to protect international shipping when conditions allow them to transit the Strait of Hormuz.'
'The pre-positioning of HMS Dragon is part of prudent planning that will ensure that the UK is ready, as part of a multinational coalition jointly led by the UK and France, to secure the strait, when conditions allow.'
The decision to move HMS Dragon from the eastern Mediterranean, where it had been defending British bases on Cyprus, will enable the destroyer to contribute immediately should the defensive mission in the strait be launched.
This is a breaking news story and is being updated.
