The United States officially launched its joint maritime security initiative in the Gulf, with the support of Australia, the United Kingdom and Bahrain, as tensions with Iran continue to escalate.

Australia has joined Britain and Bahrain in signing onto a U.S.-led maritime security mission to protect international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions with Iran, the prime minister said Wednesday.

Bahrain announced on Monday that it will join a US-led maritime coalition to counter Iranian threats to freedom of navigation in the Arabian Gulf. Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's 5th Fleet, is the first Arabian Gulf country to officially join the coalition.