The evacuation of non-combatants from the Strait of Hormuz has been suspended. A cargo ship was attacked. The UN mission is now on hold.
Whitehall sources confirm the Royal Navy has been placed on standby. British tankers in the Gulf are the priority. HMS Duncan is already in the region. A second destroyer is being prepared for deployment.
The attack occurred at 0347 local time. A commercial vessel, Liberian-flagged, was struck by an unidentified projectile. Crew are safe. The ship is disabled. The cause is unclear. But the timing is not accidental.
This is a deliberate provocation. The strait is a chokepoint for global oil. 20% of the world's supply passes through here. The UN evacuation was meant to de-escalate. Now it's a casualty.
Downing Street is in emergency session. The PM is being briefed by COBRA. Options are limited. A full naval escort for all British-flagged vessels is likely. That means more ships. More sailors. More risk.
The Foreign Office is urging calm. But the mood in the Lobby is tense. Backbenchers are demanding action. The opposition is calling for a parliamentary debate. The government is stonewalling.
This is a game of nerves. Iran is testing the West. The US is already at heightened alert. The UK is caught in the middle. The Royal Navy's commitment is a signal. But signals can be misinterpreted.
I'm hearing from a senior defence source that the rules of engagement have been changed. Royal Navy captains now have greater discretion to respond to threats. That is significant. It lowers the threshold for confrontation.
The oil markets are already jittery. Brent crude is up 4% in early trading. The Treasury is monitoring. A prolonged disruption would hit the UK economy. Hard.
The UN Security Council will meet later today. Expect a statement. But words are cheap. Action is expensive. The Royal Navy is now the primary guarantor of British interests in the Gulf. That is a heavy burden.
Watch this space. The situation is fluid. I'll update as events unfold.
