Multinational Minesweepers: Naval Exercise Sweeps Strait of Hormuz for Mines

Seen as a warning to Iran

British warships have joined a major naval exercise in the Persian Gulf as tensions between Israel and Iran over Tehran's nuclear power programme increase.

British forces are taking part in a joint operation conducted by the navies of more than 30 countries to sweep the area - a major transit point  of maritime trade - clean of mines.