Britain tasks navy with accompanying British-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz

LONDON (Reuters) - 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 defence 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."

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew MacAskill, writing by Alistair Smout; editing by James Davey)