London and Paris chair 40-nation defense ministers on Hormuz
The British government announced that a meeting of the defence ministers of dozens of countries will be held on Tuesday on military plans aimed at restoring sea freight through the Strait of Hormuz.
"Defence Secretary John Healey, together with his French counterpart, Catherine Vaughan, will chair a meeting of more than 40 countries, the first for defence ministers as part of the multinational mission," a statement from the British Ministry of Defence said.
Britain sends HMS Dragon to the Middle East
Earlier, Britain announced that it would send its warship "HMS Dragon" to the Middle East, in preparation for a possible international move to protect maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as conditions permit.
Bloomberg noted that Britain will send the ship as part of planning a European-led mission to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, noting that this mission will only begin after a stable ceasefire or a sustainable peace agreement is reached.
The Type-45, which can destroy guided missiles, is likely to form part of Britain's offer to take part in the maritime defence mission, which aims to reassure merchant ships trying to pass through the waterway.
A spokesman for the UK Ministry of Defence said: "The advance move to send HMS Dragon is part of careful planning that will ensure Britain, under a multinational alliance jointly led by the UK and France, is prepared to secure the strait when conditions permit."
The warship completed weapons system testing off the coast of Crete in the Mediterranean and was previously sent to the eastern Mediterranean in March, shortly after the start of Iran's war to help defend Cyprus.
France transports aircraft carrier to Red Sea
France announced on Wednesday (May 6th) that it would transfer the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Red Sea, in a move aimed at demonstrating the coalition's readiness to secure the strait.
Last week, Bloomberg quoted a French official as saying that his country had moved the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Red Sea, where it would soon be joined by ships from other partner countries, adding that the move was intended to send a signal that the naval alliance led by France and Britain was ready to secure the strait.
The French and British-led naval alliance is ready to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if Iran agrees to a U.S. proposal to end the war, the official said.
The combat group accompanying the carrier includes qualitative capabilities, most notably about 20 Rafale M aircraft on board the nuclear carrier, in addition to French frigates and support ships from allied countries including Italy and the Netherlands, giving the force the ability to carry out surveillance, reconnaissance, air defense and secure sensitive sea lanes.
Iran warns: Hormuz is not a common
Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned on Sunday that any Franco-British move in the Strait of Hormuz under the pretext of promoting freedom of navigation represents the "militarization" of a vital waterway, prompting Tehran to respond.
According to Iranian television, Abadi said that "the deployment of destroyers in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz under the pretense of protecting navigation will only escalate the crisis," considering that providing security for navigation will not be achieved "through a show of military force, especially by parties that are themselves part of the problems."
He added, "The Strait of Hormuz is not a common property of powers from outside the region, but rather a sensitive waterway adjacent to the littoral countries."
France and Britain are working on a proposal to lay the groundwork for safe passage through the strait once the situation in the Strait of Hormuz stabilizes and military operations end, and more than 40 countries are involved in planning the British-French military mission, and a number of countries are expected to provide capabilities in the field of demining, escort and air police.