Prime Minister
It is absolutely outrageous that a merchant ship going about its peaceful business should be attacked in this way. I understand that one person is dead; we know of no more fatal casualties but the fire is out and that the ship will probably go to Bahrain to be repaired probably under its own steam—but that merchant seamen should be subjected to this kind of attack is utterly disgraceful. Of course we shall raise it in the United Nations—we shall raise it most forcibly with Iran and I think it gives very very important evidence to the position that we have taken up for some time that unless both sides accept a ceasefire, we must go immediately to an arms embargo on that side which does not accept it because what we must try to do is to deprive people who undertake these attacks of the weapons that do it.
Interviewer
But do you think there is a stronger case, maybe for the Royal Navy to move further north to protect British flagged vessels?
Prime Minister
What I have indicated is that we cannot—obviously no single navy can protect the entire Gulf—it is a very very big waterway. We have been concentrating on the Straits of Hormuz and outside the [end p1] Straits of Hormuz and going up as far as Bahrain—this occurred further north. There are now several Navies there. They are not under a single joint command nor do we wish them to be so but they are very used to working together, to liaising together amongst the Commanders and that I think is what they will increasingly do to see that each particular group works in its own area so that that way we may be able to cover larger portions of the Gulf. Of course we always keep the Armilla Patrol under review but I do not think we could spare many more ships, indeed if any, because we have duties the world over and that is why the liaison role with others is so important.
Interviewer
How do you think that liaison role can be improved, Prime Minister?
Prime Minister
They are already used to coordinating together, there is a very well laid down procedure and they are used to operating it, it is that they are not all there and do not forget this is a disgraceful attack—absolutely outrageous attack; a rocket attack on an innocent merchantman—no defence—part of it, as you know, actually hit the crew quarters—no defence—and we simply must keep that Gulf waterway open for ships going about their lawful duties and without which we could not continue to exist. The Merchant Navy is very very important. [end p2]
Interviewer
Prime Minister, do you feel that the American attack on an Iranian vessel yesterday risks a further escalation of the Gulf conflict?
Prime Minister
Look, let us get things straight. If that ship was laying mines—again an attack on innocent merchantmen—if that ship was laying mines, the merchantmen are entitled to expect the Navies of the world to defend the merchantmen. Go for the people who are causing the trouble in the first place; the people who are attacking the innocent merchantmen. There is nothing wrong in defending the merchantmen. That is what we are there to do.