Iranian Navy Escorts, Protects 5,000 Tankers, Cargo Ships

The Iranian naval forces have succeeded in escorting and protecting almost 5,000 oil tankers and commercial ships in international waters since 2008, Rear Admiral Sayyari said on Saturday.

The Iranian Navy, he said, has also thwarted numerous pirate attacks to secure the safe passage of the ships in Iran's territorial waters.

The advanced capabilities of Iran’s armed forces show the country’s great and exemplary power, Rear Admiral Sayyari stressed, adding that the country's armed forces are “able to defend the interests of the Islamic Republic [even] at a distance of 2,500 km off Iran’s coasts”.

He added that country has managed to reach such levels of power and dominance that it will not hesitate to give the “harshest response” to even the slightest threats.

“Wherever the interests of the Islamic [Republic] are in danger, we stand firm and defend our interests,” Rear Admiral Sayyari said.

The commander noted that faith and unity are among the key factors behind the Iranian nation’s victory over the nefarious designs of enemies, warning them of the “harshest response” should they dare make the slightest threat against the country.

Rear Admiral Sayyari emphasized that safeguarding territorial integrity, playing an active role in the international arena, strengthening national security and deterrent power, and maintaining full readiness of the armed forces were among the achievements of the Islamic Revolution.

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.

Earlier this month, 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.

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.

"Following the new US Joint Naval Alliance with its allies, we are witnessing an increase in piracy on this vital waterway," he added.

Also earlier in May, 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.