(Telegraph-UK) Amy Willis - Britain has issued a stark warning to Iran saying that any attempt to block a key trade route in the Gulf will be met with military force from the Royal Navy. Philip Hammond, the defense secretary, said Thursday in Washington that Britain will not tolerate an enforced closure of the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of the world's oil passes through. "Any attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz would be illegal and we need to send a very clear message to Iran that we are determined that the Strait remains open," he said. Royal Navy ships based in Bahrain are already poised to ensure tanker traffic remains unrestricted. U.S. warships are also on patrol in the area.
2012-01-06 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive