Britain plans European-led Gulf force after tanker seizure

LONDON－Britain on Monday said it was planning a European-led protection force for shipping in the Persian Gulf after Iranian authorities seized a British-flagged tanker in a dramatic escalation of tensions in the region.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt condemned Iran's actions as "state piracy" while at the same time emphasizing that Britain did not want confrontation.

"We will seek to establish this mission as quickly as possible," Hunt said, adding that a second warship that Britain has sent to the region would arrive by July 29.

In a ramping up of tensions, Iran's Revolutionary Guard seized the Stena Impero oil tanker on Friday in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The move came two weeks after British authorities seized an Iranian tanker off Gibraltar on suspicion of breaching the European Union's sanctions against Syria against a backdrop of brinkmanship between Washington and Teheran.

The British announcement signals a potential shift from Washington's major European allies who so far have been cool to US requests that they beef up their military presence in the Persian Gulf region, for fear of feeding the confrontation there.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country is not seeking confrontation with Britain in a message directed at its likely incoming prime minister, Boris Johnson.

"It is very important for Boris Johnson as he enters 10 Downing Street to understand that Iran does not seek confrontation, that Iran wants normal relations based on mutual respect," Zarif told reporters during a visit to Nicaragua.

He also accused Britain "of doing the bidding for the (Donald) Trump administration".

Protection measures

Hunt said the protection force "will not be part of the US maximum pressure policy on Iran because we remain committed to preserving the Iran nuclear agreement".

The United States pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal last year.

Iran impounded the tanker after claiming it failed to respond to distress calls and turned off its transponder after hitting a fishing boat.

However, Britain has said there was no evidence of a collision and said the vessel was in Omani waters, with its transponder switched on.

The EU has already expressed its "deep concern" at the move and on Monday German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said: "We don't want any further escalation."

There have been a number of attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz since May, when the US boosted its military presence in response to what it called indications of a "credible threat" from Iran.

The British government had warned its ships to avoid the shipping channel, a chokepoint for about one-third of the world's seaborne oil.

Hunt said the volume of shipping made it impossible to protect every vessel individually.

The standoff came at a sensitive time for Britain, with Prime Minister Theresa May to step down on Wednesday over her failure to deliver Brexit.

Former foreign minister Johnson is the overwhelming favorite to replace her and there have been calls for stronger action against Iran, such as financial sanctions.

Oil prices jumped on Monday on fresh concerns about supplies and a possible conflict in the crude-rich Middle East.

Agencies