The 33rd fleet of the Iranian Navy which had inaugurated its mission from the country's southern port of Bandar Abbas to provide security for shipping lines in the region, managed to rescue two Iranian oil tankers that had come under pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden.
Five pirate speedboats had approached the Iranian tankers and were about to launch an assault on them but their attacks were foiled by the timely appearance of the Iranian fleet which forced the pirates to flee the area.
Three days prior to this attack at 75 miles to southeast of Yemen, four pirate boats had attacked another Iranian tanker but were forced to retreat when they came under heavy fire from the 33rd fleet of the Iranian navy.
In recent years, Iran’s Navy has increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.
In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has been also conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 in order to safeguard 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.
MS
MNA
END
2487493