British ships face heightened security risks in the Middle East Gulf in the weeks or months ahead, with the UK-Iran tanker standoff unlikely to be resolved soon.
Despite having vowed to de-escalate tensions through diplomacy, the UK will find it difficult to compromise with Iran while maintaining close ties with the Trump administration.
Given that new Prime Minister Boris Johnson won the leadership of the ruling Conservative Party by promising to deliver Brexit, he is likely to prioritise the relationship with the US while taking a tough stance towards the European Union.
