THE Royal Navy is drawing up plans to deploy 100 marines to the Persian Gulf to protect British ships after a series of alleged Iranian attacks on oil tankers in the region.
The Government's Cobra security committee is expected to meet tomorrow to discuss the escalating situation. The Marines will depart from 42 Commando based near Plymouth to form a rapid reaction force called the Special Purpose Task Group 19, according to reports.
It will operate from Navy ships patrolling the region from Britain's £40m naval base in Bahrain, which opened last year. The task group will protect the Navy's ships as well as mechant vessels.
READ MORE: UK ambassador sought meeting with Iran’s Foreign Ministry amid oil tanker row
Shipping insiders said tanker firms may be forced on to a "conflict footing" after tensions in the Gulf reached their highest point since 1987, when Iraq and Iran began destroying each other's oil infrastructure.
Fresh details have emerged about conflict in recent weeks around the Strait of Hormuz.
(Picture credit: PA)
US officials claimed Iranian forces had attempted to shoot down an American drone in the Gulf of Oman shortly before beginning an attack on two tankers on Thursday, according to CNN.
If confirmed, that would signal a willingness by Iran to directly confront the US in the Persian Gulf.
Hassan Rouhani, Iran's president, yesterday repeated his threat to breach the 2015 nuclear agreement by resuming enrichment of the kind of highgrade uranium which could be used in a nuclear weapon.
READ MORE: War of words pours fuel on fire as Americans put Iran in their sights
Mr Rouhani has said that high-grade enrichment will resume in July unless European signatories to the deal find a way to circumvent US sanctions and bring relief to Iran's faltering economy.
He did not mention the tanker incident but Iran has denied responsibility. Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, condemned Jeremy Corbyn after the Labour leader questioned whether there was credible evidence Iran was responsible for this week's attacks.
The US released a video that it said showed Iranian forces trying to hide evidence of attacking the tankers and the British Government said that it was "almost certain" that Iran's Revolutionary Guard was responsible. "Without credible evidence about the tanker attacks, the Government's rhetoric will only increase the threat of war," Mr Corbyn said.
READ MORE: Britain backs US assessment blaming Iran for ‘attacks’ on oil tankers
Mr Hunt called the comments "pathetic and predictable". "From Salisbury to the Middle East, why can he never bring himself to back British allies, British intelligence or British interests?" he asked.
Heiko Mass, the German foreign minister, also said the grainy video released by the US was "not enough" to prove Iran was behind the attack.
The UN called for an independent investigation into what happened.
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