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Britain Begins Escorting All UK Vessels Through Strait of Hormuz

Reuters

   LONDON -- Britain has started sending awarship to accompany all
   British-flagged vessels through theStrait of Hormuz, a change in policy
   announced Thursday afterthe government previously said it did not have
   resources to doso.

   Tensions have spiked between Iran and Britain since lastFriday when
   Iranian commandos seized a British-flagged tanker inthe world's most
   important waterway for oil shipments. That cametwo weeks after British
   forces captured an Iranian oil tankernear Gibraltar, accused of
   violating sanctions on Syria.

   HMS Montrose, a British frigate now in the area, carried outthe first
   mission under the new policy Wednesday evening.

   "The RoyalNavyhas been tasked to accompany British-flaggedships through
   the Strait of Hormuz, either individually or ingroups, should
   sufficient notice be given of their passage," agovernment spokesman
   said.

   "Freedom of navigation is crucial for the global tradingsystem and
   world economy, and we will do all we can to defendit," he added in a
   statement.

   The British government had previously advisedBritish-flagged vessels to
   avoid the Strait of Hormuz wherepossible and to notify theNavyif they
   must cross it, but hadsaid it would not be able to escort every ship.