UK defence minister thanks Royal Navy for upholding international law - Twitter

British defence minister Penny Mordaunt said on Thursday the Royal Navy had upheld international law by helping a merchant oil tanker pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, the British government said three Iranian vessels tried to block the passage of a BP-operated tanker but withdrew after warnings from a British warship.

"I would like to thank the Royal Navy for their professionalism, which upheld international law and supported freedom of navigation through a shipping channel that is vital to global trade," Mordaunt said in a statement posted on Twitter.