UK-GULF 2LAST
PTI | 06:01 PM,Jan 24,2012The EU currently buys about 20 per cent of Iran's oil The EU currently buys about 20 per cent of Iran's oil exports and the British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the sanctions represented "a significant increase and legitimate pressure on Iran to return to negotiations over its nuclear programme." Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd who was present at the conference said his country would also enforce the EU ban on Iranian crude oil imports. The British defence secretary disclosed that HMS Argyll, a well armed frigate, had been positioned in the Gulf along with an US and French flotilla. He also said that Britain had mine-counter measure vessels in the region which were an important part of the overall allied presence. British defence ministry did not outline on what assets and personnel were deployed in the Persian Gulf, but said that there were 1500 navy personnel deployed east of Suez. Besides the frigate and minesweepers, UK has also one hunter-killer nuclear submarine in the region. The moves by US, UK and France to bolster fighting assets in the Gulf region came as President Barack Obama backed the EU sanctions, saying they show international unity against "serious threats" posed by Iran's nuclear programme. PTI SSB AKD
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