Working closely with partners to defend freedom of navigation- US Navy

The U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet said on Thursday it is working closely with the British Royal Navy as well as regional and global partners to preserve and defend the freedom of navigation, a day after three Iranian vessels tried to block a British-flagged tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

"The United States Fifth Fleet is aware of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy's unlawful harassment and attempts to interfere with the passage of the UK-flagged merchant vessel British Heritage on 10 July, near the Strait of Hormuz," Vice Admiral Jim Malloy, Commander U.S. Fifth Fleet, added in a statement.