Britain on Monday said it would join the United States 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 Britain 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 Britain'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."
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