HMS Montrose was forced to fire flares on more than a dozen occasions as she warned off the Iranian forces, say the Royal Navy.

The Royal Navy say that British ships have been probed by the Iranians daily with 115 interactions in all.

“Montrose passed through the narrow gateway to the Gulf 38 times – each time observed by Iranian forces, broadcasting on radios, with drones watching every move overhead and boats often approaching with intent.

The Plymouth-based frigate, which completed the first phase of its escort duties late last week, was forced to fire flares on more than a dozen occasions as she warned off the Iranian forces.”

Despite such threats however, the ship has reportedly sought to prevent a tense situation escalating and so far the only thing fired have been warning flares as they drove away Iranian boats.

Commander Will King said:

“The threat is there. And as long as it is, Royal Navy warships will be here to protect British shipping.”

“It’s a big ‘well done’ to HMS Duncan and HMS Montrose especially,” said Commodore Dean Bassett, UK Maritime Component Commander – the senior Royal Navy officer in the Middle East.

“Both have worked tirelessly, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in extremely hot and humid conditions, facing a high degree of threat, making sure British merchant shipping is safe. That they have done so is down to the quality of our men and women.

The impact on the UK – and the world’s economy – if these six million tonnes had not got through doesn’t need underlining: about one third of the world’s natural gas and one sixth of the world’s oil pass through Hormuz.

Our response is a direct result to the threat from Iran. If Iran sticks to international law and stops it aggressive action, there is no need for warships to be here in force.”