Iran Navy flotilla foils pirate attack on Iranian merchant vessel in Red Sea

Iranian naval forces have managed to thwart a pirate attack on one of the country’s merchant vessels that had been besieged by pirates in the Red Sea following a fierce exchange of fire.

The escort flotilla of the Iranian Navy's 83rd fleet of warships, led by the domestically-manufactured destroyer Jamaran, rushed to the rescue of the cargo ship after the vessel came under attack by 12 armed pirates onboard a boat while sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait – a main shipping route that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.

The Iranian forces managed to save the vessel and forced the pirates to escape the scene after heavy clashes.

Back on August 10, the Iranian naval forces saved a trade vessel from a pirate attack in the Red Sea.

Iranian Navy's deputy head of operations, Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajeddini, said that one of the country’s merchant ships in the Red Sea made a distress call after coming under attack from pirates.

Iran Navy foils pirate attack, IRGC seizes vessel smuggling fuel

Iran

He said the Iranian naval flotilla, with Jamaran destroyer acting as its lead ship, was immediately dispatched to the zone and took action against the assailants.

The Iranian naval forces, tasked with escorting trade vessels in the Red Sea, forced the attackers to flee after a heavy exchange of fire, the senior commander noted.

Moreover, Iran's naval forces rescued an Iranian trade ship from a pirate attack in the Red Sea on May 18.

Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said at the time that one of the country’s merchant ships in the area made a request for help after coming under attack from pirates.

He noted that the Iranian Navy units tasked with escorting trade vessels were immediately dispatched to the zone, and took action against the assailants.

The attackers were forced to flee after an exchange of fire with the Iranian naval forces, the commander said, adding that the trade ship was en route to its destination.

Iranian naval forces had prevented pirates from hijacking one of the country’s trade vessels in the Gulf of Aden less than a week earlier.

Iran Navy fends off pirate attack on Iranian oil tanker in Gulf of Aden

An Iranian warship successfully thwarts a pirate attack on an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden.

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 conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, 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.

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