MANAMA: An attempted seizure of a British oil tanker in Gulf waters has renewed calls to urgently establish a proposed international military coalition to safeguard strategic maritime passages.
The UK government said yesterday that three Iranian boats had attempted to “impede the passage” of a British oil tanker as it was moving out of Gulf waters into the Strait of Hormuz, forcing UK warship HMS Montrose to intervene.
However, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) denied attempting to impede the tanker, which was reportedly done in response to the seizure of an Iranian tanker off Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory.
On Wednesday, US Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced the plan to set up the military coalition to ensure freedom of navigation both in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab Al Mandeb as tensions with Iran escalate.
However, Kuwait-based security analyst Dr Zafer Alajmi said the coalition should be headed by naval officials from the GCC for an effective management of the escalating tensions.
Dr Alajmi, who is the executive manager of the Gulf Monitor Group, told the GDN that such a coalition was more urgent than ever before as Iran escalates threats and actions to block the strategic maritime chokepoints.
“This attack will speed up the forming of the coalition that would escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
“If maritime safety and security is the aim of the coalition, the commander of the planned coalition should be from the GCC.
“Reasons for this are many; first, they have been running the show in command of the Combined Task Forces (CTFs) under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) operated by the US Fifth Fleet in the region.
“Also, they will be able to manage the issues with the right rules of engagements, especially, as they don’t consider the IRCG as terrorists like the Americans.”
Washington has blamed Iran and Iran-backed fighters for recent attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, while in May four commercial vessels were sabotaged near Fujairah, one of the world’s largest bunkering hubs lying just outside the Strait of Hormuz.
“The GCC navies are well informed of the ports and the situations in the Gulf, which will be an added advantage,” added Dr Alajmi, a retired Kuwaiti air force colonel.
“They will also be the first to be ready to assist the planned coalition logistically, especially with them commanding the CTF-151 and 152.”
The Kuwaiti Navy is currently commanding CTF-151 and CTF-152, which focuses on counter-piracy and maritime security in the Gulf respectively.
Both task forces operate under Bahrain-based CMF, which is a US-led multinational naval partnership of 32 nations tasked with promoting security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters.
Yesterday’s intervention of HMS Montrose, a Type 23 frigate, is the first reported “action” by the British warship, which is the first Royal Navy warship to be stationed at the UK Naval Support Facility in Juffair, from where it will carry out operations for the next three years.
“HMS Montrose was forced to position herself between the Iranian vessels and British Heritage and issue verbal warnings to the Iranian vessels, which then turned away,” said a British government spokesman in a statement.
The spokesman added that the seizure attempt was “contrary to international law” and expressed concern, urging Iranian authorities to “de-escalate the situation in the region”.
Meanwhile, Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat) assistant researcher Mohamed Ismaeel cited the need for “heightened security” in and around the Arabian Gulf.
Alert
“The American and British naval forces are on alert and in position due to Iranian aggression in the Strait of Hormuz,” he said yesterday.
“The example of the British vessel attack highlights Iran’s strategy of disrupting civilian merchant traffic, but the British naval response is testament to the readiness and operational effectiveness of the Royal Navy in the region.
“There is certainly a need for heightened security in the waters of the Arabian Gulf, and this need has been recognised by US and UK forces.”
Tensions between Iran and the US and its allies have risen sharply since Washington stepped up economic sanctions against Tehran and moved to bring the country’s oil exports to zero as part of a “maximum pressure” policy to force Iran to halt actions that “undermined regional security”.
Iran has responded to the sanctions by starting to breach limits put on its nuclear activities under a 2015 deal with world powers.
Last month, Iran also shot down a US drone near the Strait of Hormuz, prompting President Donald Trump to order and later call off a retaliatory air strike.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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