The UK is to increase its military presence in the Gulf by sending a second warship to the region.
HMS Duncan, a Type 45 Destroyer, will sail to the Gulf in the coming days after recently completing NATO exercises in the Black Sea, and is expected in the region shortly.
Duncan will operate alongside the Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose, and US allies in the Gulf, but she will not be part of an international maritime coalition proposed by Washington.
The Iranian oil tanker was suspected of carrying oil to Syria The Ministry of Defence would not comment on the deployment, but it is understood that Duncan was always due to travel to the region to give some relief to HMS Montrose.
However her deployment has been brought forward as a result of the deepening crisis with Iran.
In addition to HMS Montrose, the UK also has four mine hunters permanently stationed in the region, and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship.
It comes after a senior Iranian cleric warned Britain will soon be "slapped in the face" for "daring" to capture an oil tanker last week off the coast of Gibraltar.
