{"id":192141,"date":"2019-07-25T05:57:21","date_gmt":"2019-07-25T05:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=192141"},"modified":"2019-07-28T07:25:31","modified_gmt":"2019-07-28T07:25:31","slug":"royal-navy-rushes-nuclear-submarine-to-the-gulf-after-iran-tanker-arrest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=192141","title":{"rendered":"Royal Navy Rushes Nuclear Submarine To The Gulf After Iran Tanker Arrest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nandike Chand \u2013 International Business Times July 22, 2019<\/h1>\n
\"\"<\/a>

Royal Navy nuclear submarine<\/p><\/div>\n

With heightened tensions in the Gulf following Iran seizing a British-flagged oil tanker, the\u00a0Stena Impero,\u00a0<\/em> on Friday in the Strait of Hormuz, the Royal Navy is sending a nuclear-powered attack submarine to the region to bolster its force there.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sources<\/a>, according to the Express, said the Astute-class submarine would perform a purely defensive role<\/a><\/strong><\/span>. The Navy will use the submarine\u2019s sophisticated covert electronic intelligence gathering equipment to safeguard British and international shipping. The submarine, as per the Sun, will listen in to Iranian communications before passing information back to its operational headquarters at Northwood, in North West London.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Yono-class, disgnated by Iran as Ghadir-class mini submarines. Click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n

Tom Sharpe, a retired naval Commander,\u00a0explained<\/a><\/strong><\/span> that the Royal Navy chose the Astute-class submarine because of the danger posed by Iran\u2019s Yono-class midget submarines. Sharpe described the Yono midget submarine as a menace. \u201cOften lurking just below the surface, they are armed with a couple of heavyweight torpedoes. These will kill a frigate and possibly even a carrier. There are always a couple at sea and they are hard to track and even harder to defeat,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reports say the Royal Marines will also be deployed in the region, with some already on the ground. They have been authorized to use heavy-calibre machine guns, snipers and light anti-tank missiles to keep away Iranian forces. Meanwhile, the HMS Duncan<\/em>, a Type 45 air-defence destroyer, is also headed for the Gulf to support the warship\u00a0HMS <\/strong><\/span><\/a>Montrose<\/a> <\/em><\/strong><\/span>that is already deployed in the Gulf.<\/span><\/p>\n

The deployment of a<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0nuclear submarine\u00a0was discussed at the meeting of the Cobra emergency response committee after Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) seized the British oil tanker for allegedly violating international maritime rules.<\/span><\/p>\n

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said U.K. vessels \u201cmust and will be protected.” During an emergency call with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, Hunt expressed extreme disappointment. \u201cThis has to be about actions, not words, if we are to find a way through. British shipping must and will be protected,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sun said the\u00a0U.K. is also pushing<\/strong><\/span><\/a> for EU and UN sanctions to be reimposed on the Iranian regime after they were lifted in 2016 as part of a deal on Iran\u2019s nuclear program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hamid Baeidinejad, Iran\u2019s envoy to Britain, took to Twitter, saying \u201cthe U.K. government should contain those domestic political forces who want to escalate existing tension between Iran and the UK well beyond the issue of ships. This is quite dangerous and unwise at a senstitive time in the region.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

UK government should contain those domestic political forces who want to escalate existing tension between Iran and the UK well beyond the issue of ships. This is quite dangerous and unwise at a sensitive time in the region. Iran however is firm and ready for different scenarios.<\/p>\n

— Hamid Baeidinejad (@baeidinejad) July 21, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n