UK deploys destroyer to Arabian Gulf as Iran tensions heighten


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Britain has increased its military commitment in the Arabian Gulf by sending a second warship to the region as it seeks to offer reassurance to merchant shipping amid escalating tensions with Iran.

HMS Duncan, a Type-45 destroyer, has been ordered to sail to the Arabian Gulf after recently completing Nato exercises in the Black Sea. The journey is expected to take about 10 days. The ship will join the frigate HMS Montrose and US allies in the Gulf, but will not be part of an international naval coalition requested by America. It was understood to be bound for the area, but its arrival has been brought forward.

The UK government said on Thursday that three Iranian vessels tried to block a British-owned tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but backed off when confronted by HMS Montrose. Iran denied the claims, saying that if it had received orders to seize any vessels it would have executed them straight away.

The confrontation came after the British navy’s seizure of the Iranian supertanker Grace 1 off the coast of Gibraltar on June 4.

The vessel was carrying 2.1 million barrels of crude oil suspected to be bound for Syria in a breach of EU sanctions. Its four crew members were arrested and released on bail by authorities in the British territory.

The seizure sparked fury in Tehran, which branded the act “illegal”. Calling for the vessel’s release.

Joel Gulhane, a Middle East analyst at The Risk Advisory Group, told The National that Iran “will probably be more willing to harass tankers as long as Grace 1 remains in detention”.

“This fits within Iran’s wider rhetoric and actions in response to the escalating tension over the past few months amid US sanctions that also aim to reduce Iranian oil exports to zero.”

The US last year pulled out of a 2015 accord that lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme, but Tehran blames other western signatories, including Britain, for not doing enough to counter these sanctions despite remaining committed to the deal. Tensions have also been raised by the US sending additional military assets to the region and a series of attacks on tankers in the Gulf of Oman that Washington has blamed on Iran.

Britain’s senior defence adviser for the Middle East has said its priority is finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

“The UK has been clear that a diplomatic solution remains the key focus of our efforts and we call on all actors to de-escalate current tensions,” Lt Gen Sir John Lorimer said. “In targeting civilian shipping, international norms have been violated. It is essential that trade is able to pass safely through international waters in this region and we are working closely with our partners to restore maritime security in the Gulf,” he told state news agency Wam.

He said the UK’s deployments in the region “are pre-planned and are not a direct response” to the existing tensions.

“Our continued military presence demonstrates this intent. We have over 1,500 personnel permanently stationed in the region, along with several Royal Navy ships and some of the most advanced military aircraft.” Speaking soon after Iran breached the limit on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium under the nuclear accord, Lt Gen Lorimer said Tehran’s commitment to the deal was under scrutiny.

“We have been consistent and clear that our commitment to the nuclear deal depends on full compliance by Iran,” he said. “We regret this decision by them, which calls into question an essential instrument of nuclear non-proliferation.” Gen Lorimer, who visited the UAE for the third time this year late last month, praised the country’s Armed Forces as “one of the most experienced and capable militaries in the region”.

Sidarth Kaushal, a naval research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told The National that Britain’s decision to send a Type-45 destroyer instead of a less-powerful frigate sends a symbolic message to Iran.

“The theatre air-defence capabilities of the Type 45, which can intercept cruise missiles over a wide area, can also provide defence against Iranian weapons such as the Chinese-made C-802 anti-ship cruise missile if a crisis did become kinetic,” he said.

Mr Kaushal said the Type 45 augments the defences of the region in a way a frigate cannot.

“The primary aim of the Iranian strategy in the Gulf is exposing target states to disruption and instability, as opposed to doing serious physical damage,” he said.

Mr Kaushal said that by merely attempting harassment of the British vessel, Iran had engineered oil market uncertainty and an increase in prices.

“As long as Iran’s actions can introduce uncertainty to energy markets or drive up shipping insurance rates, they serve their primary strategic aim – reminding oil-consuming countries in Europe and elsewhere that they too stand to lose from the economic pressure that the White House is placing on Iran.”

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

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Always use only regulated platforms

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Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

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Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

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UAE squad

Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind

Fixtures

Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE

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Milivojevic 76' (pen), Van Aanholt 88'

Huddersfield Town 0

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The full list of 2020 Brit Award nominees (winners in bold):

British group

Coldplay

Foals

Bring me the Horizon

D-Block Europe

Bastille

British Female

Mabel

Freya Ridings

FKA Twigs

Charli xcx

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British male

Harry Styles

Lewis Capaldi

Dave

Michael Kiwanuka

Stormzy​

Best new artist

Aitch

Lewis Capaldi

Dave

Mabel

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Best song

Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber - I Don’t Care

Mabel - Don’t Call Me Up

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Dave - Location

Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

AJ Tracey - Ladbroke Grove

Lewis Capaldi - Someone you Loved

Tom Walker - Just You and I

Sam Smith and Normani - Dancing with a Stranger

Stormzy - Vossi Bop

International female

Ariana Grande

Billie Eilish

Camila Cabello

Lana Del Rey

Lizzo

International male

Bruce Springsteen

Burna Boy

Tyler, The Creator

Dermot Kennedy

Post Malone

Best album

Stormzy - Heavy is the Head

Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka

Lewis Capaldi - Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent

Dave - Psychodrama

Harry Styles - Fine Line

Rising star

Celeste

Joy Crookes

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULT

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Galaxy: Dos Santos (79', 88')
United: Rashford (2', 20'), Fellaini (26'), Mkhitaryan (67'), Martial (72')