Britain Sends its New Type 45 Destroyer to the Persian Gulf: U.S. Vows Strong Response Against Iran

photo Royal Navy

January 9, 2012. David Pugliese - Defence Watch

The BBC has reported that the Royal Navy’s newest and most advanced ship is being sent to the Persian Gulf for her first mission.

That comes amid heightened tensions with Iran over threats by that country to block the main oil shipping lane in the region.

More from the BBC:

Type 45 destroyer HMS Daring, which employs a “stealth” design to help avoid detection, is to join the British presence in the region, the Ministry of Defence confirmed.

Although the deployment of the high-tech vessel has been planned for more than a year, it comes as Britain and allies have issued clear warnings to Iran over its threats.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has warned the regime that any attempt to block the Strait of Hormuz would be “illegal and unsuccessful” and would be countered militarily if necessary.

Meanwhile…..

On the weekend TV talk shows in the U.S., American officials made it clear that the United States will respond if Iran tries to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Gulf.

U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said such a move would cross a “red line.”

More from Agence France Press:

“We made very clear that the United States will not tolerate the blocking of the Straits of Hormuz,” Panetta told CBS television. “That’s another red line for us and that we will respond to them.”

Panetta was seconded by General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said Iran has the means to close the waterway, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil passes.

“But we would take action and reopen the Straits,” the general said on the same show, “Face the Nation.”