Royal Navy to send HMS Dragon to Strait of Hormuz | World | News
Royal Navy warship HMS Dragon is being deployed to the Middle East in preparation for a potential international mission to secure shipping in the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the Type 45 destroyer would “take a preliminary position” in the region, ready to join the UK and France-led initiative once hostilities between Iran and US-Israeli forces end.
A fragile ceasefire remains in place, although US forces shot down two Iranian tankers that allegedly tried to violate the US blockade of the strait. Donald Trump It is trying to put pressure on Iran by restricting Tehran’s ability to export oil by preventing ships from traveling to and from its ports through the narrow waterway. The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes, has been effectively closed since the beginning of March.
In response to the US-Israeli attacks, Iran began stopping shipping traffic from passing through the crossing, causing disruptions in supply chains and rising oil prices.
Earlier this week, a French container ship was rammed in the Strait of Hormuz, injuring several people on board.
HMS Dragon has been in the Eastern Mediterranean since the end of March, helping to protect an RAF base in Cyprus after it was hit by a drone believed to have been fired by one of Iran’s proxy forces.
It is preparing to join France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the Middle East.
Britain and France are leading a multinational effort to reopen the key trade route.
A Ministry of Defense spokesman said: “We can confirm that HMS Dragon will deploy to the Middle East to take forward positions ahead of any future multinational missions 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 to ensure the UK is ready to secure the strait when conditions permit, as part of a multinational coalition jointly led by the UK and France.”
