Britain could be set to send civilian ships to the Strait of Hormuz in a bid to clear Iranian mines from the vital trade route.
The Royal Navy is considering using the vessels as floating platforms for drones to combat the ship-sinking traps laid by the Islamic regime.
The UK has taken a leading role alongside France and the United States in a multinational coalition to restore safe passage through the Strait.
Under the plans being considered, chartered ships would function as "motherships" from which unmanned systems could be launched to locate and neutralise underwater explosives throughout the Gulf region.
"We're in day-to-day dialogue with industry," a defence insider revealed about the scheme, adding: "Those vessels are literally all over the world."
The source explained that there was potential to "charter vessels and use a much more commercial model" with Royal Navy or allied warships providing protective cover.
Naval commanders are also examining whether the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's four Bay-class landing ships, currently all inactive, could be repurposed for mine clearance duties.
"All of those are being explored as we start to bring to life what this could look like with international partners," a military official said.
Britain could be set to send civilian ships to the Strait of Hormuz in a bid to clear Iranian mines from the vital trade route
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Large vessels with expansive deck areas or submersible-launching capability are thought to be among suitable candidates, though the Navy has not specified which ships might be selected, per The Telegraph.
It comes as the UK intends to convene a security summit focused on the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
British officials have indicated that the gathering could take place in either London or Portsmouth in the coming days.
More than thirty countries have already committed to a joint declaration pledging "appropriate efforts" to protect the vital trade route, with signatories including the UAE, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
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The UK has taken a leading role alongside France and the United States in a multinational coalition to restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz
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A British official said on Tuesday that the government wished to "build this coalition and develop momentum" to establish a secure passage and reassure commercial shipping operators.
Nations are scrambling to address Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil exports pass every day.
It has sparked a global energy crisis, with crude oil prices spiralling.
According to US intelligence officials, Iran has placed a minimum of twelve mines in the strategic waterway, including both Maham 3 and Maham 7 variants.
Nations are scrambling to address Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil exports pass every day
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The Maham 3 is a tethered explosive device that employs magnetic detection technology to sense passing ships without requiring direct contact.
Its counterpart, the Maham 7, is a smaller adhesive charge designed to attach directly to vessel hulls.
This intelligence assessment emerged following President Donald Trump's announcement on Monday of a five-day pause in strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure.
He predicted the halt on the basis of the beginnings of talks with Iran, which Tehran initially denied. Efforts to achieve a dialogue between the warring states continue.
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