UK joins Gulf 'maritime security mission' as US struggles to form coalition

The UK on Monday said it would join the US in an "international maritime security mission" to protect merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tension with Iran.

The move follows a spate of incidents - including the seizure of ships - involving Iran and Western powers, in particular the UK and the US, centred on the vital Gulf thoroughfare.

"This deployment will reinforce security and provide reassurance for shipping," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.

"Our aim is to build the broadest international support to uphold freedom of navigation in the region, as protected under international law."

Raab insisted that despite the coalition the UK's approach to Iran had not changed. 

"We remain committed to working with Iran and our international partners to de-escalate the situation and maintain the nuclear deal."

The US has been struggling to piece together an international coalition to protect cargo ships travelling through the Gulf, with allies concerned about being dragged into conflict with Iran.

The British announcement will be seen as a boost to US President Donald Trump as he continues to step up a campaign of "maximum pressure" against Tehran.

Last year, Trump withdrew the US from a landmark 2015 deal placing curbs on Iran's nuclear programme and began re-imposing sanctions, urging reluctant Western allies to follow suit.

London has sought to distance itself from his hard-line stance, insisting along with other European backers of the accord that it could still be salvaged, while trying to remain a steadfast US ally.

But it has found that balancing act increasingly difficult to maintain following a flare-up in relations with Iran over shipping.

On 4 July British Royal Marines helped authorities in Gibraltar - a British Overseas Territory - seize an Iranian tanker on suspicion it was carrying oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions.

Tehran threatened reprisals and two weeks later its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intercepted the British-flagged tanker "Stena Impero" as it made its way through the Strait of Hormuz. It has detained the ship at an Iranian port. 

On Sunday, Iranian state media said it had seized another foreign tanker in the Gulf.