Today, the British government announced that the Royal Navy has seized smuggled Iranian missiles in international waters in southern Iran.
The UK Department of Defense said in a statement that in early 2022, during routine maritime security operations, HMS Montrose seized Iranian weapons from boats operated by smugglers in international waters south of Iran.
Commenting on the operation, British Secretary of the Armed Forces James Hebei stressed that his country is committed to respecting international law, countering aggression in Europe and curbing illegal arms transfers that perpetuate instability in the Middle East.
He also reaffirmed that his country will continue to work towards maintaining a lasting peace in Yemen and is committed to international maritime security so that commercial traffic can proceed safely without any threat of disruption.
The seized weapons included surface-to-air missiles and cruise missile engines for ground attack, in violation of UN Security Council resolution 2216 (2015).