Britain to seek European maritime mission to counter Iran's 'piracy'

Britain will seek to put together a European-led maritime protection mission to ensure safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran seized a British-flagged vessel in what London said was an act of "state piracy". British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, speaking in parliament on Monday (July 22), also said there cannot be compromise on freedom of navigation in the strait of Hormuz and Britain can work with the United States on its approach to the issue despite their differing views on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Iran's Revolutionary Guards seized the Stena Impero in the Strait on Friday (July 19). British Royal Marines seized an Iranian tanker off the coast of Gibraltar two weeks ago. Hunt said Britain has had constructive discussions with a number of countries in the last 48 hours over the mission.