UK Sends Destroyer Toward Hormuz to Guard Gulf Shipping

Middle Eastern outlets link the UK move to wider Gulf security worries and the economic stakes for oil exporters. Some coverage stresses that Gulf states want safer shipping without a sharp rise in Western military presence that could provoke Iran. Commentators in the region expect Gulf governments to push for both stronger naval escorts and renewed talks with Tehran to lower the risk of clashes.

• •Gulf producers rely on the Strait of Hormuz to move most of their crude and LNG exports, so any closure directly hits their revenues.
• •Regional governments welcome extra protection for tankers but are wary of a heavy Western naval build-up near Iranian waters.
• •Iran’s reaction to the UK and US deployments is seen as a key factor in whether the strait can be fully reopened.
• •Some Gulf voices call for parallel diplomatic contacts with Tehran while the multinational mission guards shipping.
• •Port operators and shippers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are already facing higher insurance and routing costs because of recent incidents.