Iran Navy saves oil tankers from pirates

An Iranian Army soldier stands guard on a military speed boat
during naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz. (File photo)

Iran's Navy warships have foiled pirate attacks on two Iranian-owned oil tankers separately off the coast of Oman and in the Gulf of Aden. 

According to a statement released by the Public Relations Department of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy on Friday, the first Iranian tanker came under attack earlier this week near Port Sultan Qaboos, which is located in Muscat on Oman's northeastern coast in the Gulf of Oman off the Arabian Sea.

The Iranian warships patrolling the area rushed to assist the vessel upon receiving its distress call, which reported an unauthorized boarding attempt by several people.

Iranian Navy marines managed to foil the pirate attack on the ship after they exchanged fire. No injuries were reported among the crews of the Iranian ships.

In another incident, pirates launched an attack on another Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia in the Horn of Africa. However, they were forced to leave the area.

The report comes one day after Iranian naval forces saved an American-flagged cargo ship that had come under attack by pirates near the Sea of Oman.

Iran's Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Ali Akbar Marzban, said on May 18 that the Iranian Navy has conducted at least 85 anti-piracy missions in international waters over the past three years.

He highlighted that more than 2,000 cargo vessels have also received Iranian naval escorts through the pirate-infested waters during the mentioned period.

MP/HGH/MA

Source (Press TV)