UK defence minister rebuffs criticism over tanker seized in Gulf
(The Guardian Iran)

Tobias Ellwood denies Britain took `eye off the ball´ and says priority is to reduce tensionsIranian coastguard´s radio exchange with UK warship emergesThe defence minister, Tobias Ellwood, has rejected the charge that a British-flagged tanker seized by Iran in the Gulf could have been better protected, and said the priority for the UK must be to de-escalate tensions.Ellwood also called for more spending on the Royal Navy, and said the US´s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal had played a part in the increasing tensions in the region. Related: Boris Johnson warned: focus on Iran crisis or risk war Continue reading...