The UK is considering options to bolster the defense of commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz following a surge in attacks on vessels in the Gulf, Defence Secretary John Healey announced Wednesday. The move comes as Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to continue blocking the vital waterway, according to reports.
Healey revealed he had discussed the escalating crisis with defense ministers from Germany, France, Italy, and Poland – the so-called E5 group – to explore coordinated responses. Whereas emphasizing that a cessation of hostilities between the U.S., Israel, and Iran remains the optimal solution to unblocking the Strait, he confirmed he has tasked military planners with identifying potential UK contributions to protect tankers from Iranian drones, mines, and missiles.
“Recognising the huge impact this potentially has on oil prices and the cost of living, there is an international imperative to try and see this resolved,” Healey said, referencing the disruption to oil and gas shipments. He disclosed the pre-positioning of autonomous mine hunting systems in the region and indicated further options are under consideration.
The UK is already deploying HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer equipped with significant air defense capabilities, to the region. Healey suggested the vessel could play a role in protecting shipping if a broader effort materializes. The Royal Navy maintains a personnel headquarters in Bahrain specializing in maritime security operations, offering a base for potential coordination.
However, Healey cautioned that planning is in its early stages. “You should not read into that that we have got some hard options poised to travel. But… I am discussing additional options with our planners,” he stated.
The potential for UK involvement extends to evacuation planning, Healey indicated, signaling discussions with E5 counterparts regarding greater coordination in the Eastern Mediterranean. RFA Lyme Bay, a large support ship, has been placed on heightened readiness for potential deployment.
The UK’s capacity to respond, however, is constrained by past defense cuts. A decade ago, the Royal Navy maintained a consistent major warship presence out of Bahrain, alongside four crewed minehunters and a substantial support vessel. Today, no warships are based in Bahrain, and the last crewed minehunter, HMS Middleton, is undergoing maintenance in the UK. This limits the UK’s ability to independently contribute to a large-scale protection effort, requiring reliance on allies like the U.S. And France.
The escalating tensions come as reports indicate six ships have been attacked in the Gulf within 48 hours, bringing the total number of vessels targeted since the start of the conflict to 18, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and maritime intelligence company Vanguard. Verified footage shows two tankers ablaze in Iraqi waters, and the U.S.-owned Safesea Vishnu sustained significant fire damage after being struck by an unmanned speedboat carrying explosives. One crew member died in the attack on the Safesea Vishnu, with three crew members remaining missing from the Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree, which was also hit while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Concerns are also growing over the potential for Iran to lay sea mines in the Strait, a tactic employed in past conflicts, according to U.S. Officials. This has already driven up oil prices, reaching their highest level in nearly four years, with a corresponding surge in gasoline prices. Mojtaba Khamenei’s statement on Thursday that the Gulf should remain closed could further exacerbate the situation.
