The Royal Navy is drawing up plans to deploy marines to the Persian Gulf to protect British ships after a series of alleged Iranian attacks on oil tankers in the region.

It is understood the plans were first drawn up weeks ago amid rising tensions with Iran, but the Ministry of Defence (MOD) mission has not been formally announced.

Whitehall’s Cobra security committee is expected to meet this week to discuss the escalating situation and proposals to dispatch Royal marines.

It comes as Iran summoned Britain's ambassador in Tehran after Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary said it was "almost certainly" behind the attacks.

Jeremy Corbyn had earlier questioned whether there was credible evidence Iran was responsible for this week’s attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

The US released a video which it said showed Iranian forces trying to hide evidence of attacking the tankers and the British government said it was “almost certain” that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard was responsible.

“Without credible evidence about the tanker attacks, the government’s rhetoric will only increase the threat of war,” Mr Corbyn said. Mr Hunt called the comments “pathetic and predictable”.