Naval protection of oil tankers in the Gulf a risky business
CHINA.ORG.CN
Tensions have been growing in the Strait of Hormuz over the past month. Following several attacks against oil tankers in May and June, a British-flagged ship was seized by Iran for allegedly straying into its territorial waters on July 19.
This was believed to be in response to Britain's own capture of an Iranian vessel a week earlier off Gibraltar over an allegation it was transporting oil to Syria and in violation of international sanctions.
The dispute prompted then British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt to join forces with France and Germany to establish a European naval taskforce to provide protection for commercial shipping in the Gulf.
