LONDON, May 9 (Reuters) - Britain said on Saturday it was deploying its warship HMS Dragon to the Middle ‌East in preparation for a potential multinational effort to ‌protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz once conditions allow.

HMS Dragon, an ​air defence destroyer, was sent to the Eastern Mediterranean in March, shortly after the start of the Iran war, to help defend Cyprus.

Its relocation to the Middle East follows a move by ‌France to deploy its ⁠carrier strike group to the southern Red Sea, as the two countries work together on a ⁠defensive plan aimed at restoring confidence in the trade route.

"The pre-positioning of HMS Dragon is part of prudent planning that will ​ensure that ​the UK is ready, as ​part of a multinational ‌coalition jointly led by the UK and France, to secure the Strait, when conditions allow," a spokesperson for Britain's Ministry of Defence said.

As the U.S. and Iran inch toward a potential off-ramp from their 10-week war, France and Britain have been working ‌on a proposal to lay the ​groundwork for safe transit through the ​Strait once the situation ​stabilises.

The plan would need coordination with Iran and ‌a dozen countries have indicated ​a willingness to ​take part.

Britain's ability to participate in any protective mission will be limited by the stretched Royal Navy, which is ​much smaller now ‌than in the past and which has had to ​retire some ships before replacements have become available.

(Reporting by ​Sarah YoungEditing by Alexandra Hudson)