UK Defense Sec Orders Warships To Escort Shipping

Politico Europe reports:

Britain ordered Royal Navy warships to accompany U.K.-flagged commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz following the U.S. killing of Iran’s top military leader, Qasem Soleimani.

U.K. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace [photo] tweeted the announcement on Saturday night, saying “the government will take all necessary steps to protect our ships and citizens at this time.”

Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab urged Iran to “take a diplomatic route” to de-escalate tensions and come in “from the international cold.”

Defence Secretary @BWallaceMP has announced that @RoyalNavy ships HMS Montrose and HMS Defender will resume accompaniments of UK-flagged commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz pic.twitter.com/Z4qXjnWMIA

— Ministry of Defence ?? (@DefenceHQ) January 4, 2020