An Australian warship has departed Western Australia for the Strait of Hormuz to safeguard the crucial waterway amid fresh tensions in the Middle East.
HMAS Toowoomba will join a US-led coalition to safeguard the shipping channel at the centre of heightened tensions between the US and Iran.
The frigate’s departure comes in the wake of the US assassination of and Iran’s missile strikes on US bases in Iraq.
Its deployment was announced last year to protect oil supplies after a series of incidents sparked fears over freedom of navigation in the trading passage. 
Middle East analyst Amin Saikal said the situation in the region is even “more dangerous” than when Prime Minister Scott Morrison committed to the deployment.
HMAS Toowomba sits in dry dock after her near completion of a substantial upgrade. Source: AAP
“The situation is highly tense and … the chances of another flair up between Iran and the United States are pretty high at the moment,” he told SBS News.
“The Australian ship and sailors could easily become a target and therefore there is a great deal more risk on the deployment of that warship now."
One hundred and ninety sailors are being deployed in the six-month mission described as an attempt to “promote maritime security and stability” in the Gulf.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne told reporters the safety and security of those deployed on the HMAS Toowoomba would be closely monitored.
“We are very committed to supporting in any way we can in processes of de-escalation in the Middle East,” she said.
“That includes what has been a long-term presence from Australia in the combined maritime force, and also, of course, our efforts in the support of counterterrorism activities particularly in Iraq.”
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most treacherous waterways, with the risk of confrontation real amid the further straining of relations between the US and Iran.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne. Source: AAP
Labor’s Defence spokesperson Richard Marles told ABC Radio it remained in support of the deployment despite the backdrop of escalating tensions.
“Freedom of navigation remains a critical matter in Australia’s national interest,” he said.
“Of course we are all concerned about what has played out in Iran and that part of the world over the last few weeks.”
“But the mission HMAS Toowoomba is going to be participating in is a very important one … and we remain supportive of it.”
Australia committed the warship, surveillance aircraft and defence personnel to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Manitou.
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Toowoomba. Source: Thanh Nien News
Mr Saikal said the motivation behind its mission to protect around 15 per cent of crude oil and 30 per cent of refined oil destined for Australia may not matter.
“That does not necessarily mean that Australia warship is going to remain totally immune from …. being caught up in the crossfire,” he said.
After Iranian missile strikes on US bases in Iraq, Foreign Minister Payne said the decision was made to reduce the presence of DFAT staff to only essential personnel.
But so far there were no personnel changes for defence in the region in response to these incidents.
“Except to say they have taken every step that could possibly be required to ensure their own safety," she said.
However, there is the prospect of the ship being diverted somewhere else in the Middle East if the security situation worsens.
“It is very important that the safety of Australian personnel is taken into account – in terms of any rising tensions… in that part of the world,” Mr Marles said.
“I would be surprised if the government doesn’t have contingency plans in place in the event of rising tensions and a situation that puts people in danger.”
HMAS Toowoomba is the 68th deployment into the Persian Gulf of an Australian frigate since 1990 and is scheduled to return in July this year.
The decision to join the coalition came after Iran’s seizure of oil tankers, the seizure of an Iranian ship and alleged incidents of sabotage.
The warship will arrive in the Middle East within a fortnight after leaving from the Stirling naval base south of Perth on Monday.
