The Iranian Navy successfully thwarted a pirate attack on an Iranian cargo vessel in the Red Sea following an exchange of fire, Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani announced.
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Rear Admiral Irani said that an Army Navy escort team engaged in clashes with a group of pirates who were attempting to hijack a commercial ship of Iran in the Red Sea.
"The Navy escort team rushed into the area this morning and clashed with the attacking boats after receiving an emergency call for help from an Iranian ship being attacked by unidentified boats in the Red Sea," he said.
"After the arrival of the Navy escort team and the exchange of fire between the attacking boats and the escort team, they (pirates) decided to flee the area. Following the new US Joint Naval Alliance with its allies, we are witnessing an increase in piracy on this vital waterway," Rear Admiral Irani said.
In a relevant development last week, the Iranian Navy announced that its forces foiled a pirate attack against a merchant ship sailing in the Gulf of Aden which had come under attack by unidentified pirates. The pirates were later forced to flee following an exchange of fire with forces of the Iranian Navy's 80th fleet.
The vessel is now sailing safely to its designated destination thanks to the timely action by the Navy’s escort team.
In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has been conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008, safeguarding merchant containers and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran or other countries.
Iran’s Navy has managed to foil several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers during its missions in international waters.
Currently, the 80th naval fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including Alborz destroyer and Bushehr naval escort ship, are operating in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden for convoy of vessels including merchant ships and oil tankers. ■