A British government spokesperson said the Royal Navy was tasked to accompany British ships in Hormuz The process is to guarantee freedom of navigation in the area LONDON: Britain’s navy will accompany British-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in order to defend freedom of navigation after Iran seized a tanker, its ministry of defense said on Thursday. “The Royal Navy has been tasked to accompany British-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz, either individually or in groups, should sufficient notice be given of their passage,” a British government spokesman said in a statement. “Freedom of navigation is crucial for the global trading system and world economy, and we will do all we can to defend it.”