Iran Navy clears pirates from Gulf of Aden

Iran Navy has forced pirates to leave Gulf of Aden through its decisive actions including escorting ships.
Iran Navy Commander announced escorting of 1,600 merchants ships and oil tankers by the Iranian Navy in the Gulf of Aden. “Through Iran Navy decisive actions, for some time, now we have not seen any traces of pirates.”

During Monday press conference in Bushehr, Rear Admiral Habib Sayyari said that “the zone of responsibility of the Navy since 1997 and under the direction of Commander-in-Chief was extended to 10th North parallel r, which it covers an area of over two million square kilometers, which means we have sailed area 1.3 times bigger than Iran Islamic Republic.”

He pointed to presence of the Navy Twenty-Fifth Battalion group destroyer, Alborz in the Gulf of Aden and said: “according to the latest reports, Alborz battalion group has been patrolling the waters of Gulf of Aden.”

Rare Admiral Sayyari also added: “since Iran Navy has started patrolling the waters of Gulf of Aden to encounter the pirates; we have escorted 1600 commercial ships and tankers including 131 search and rescue encounters.”

About holding various naval exercises, Rear Admiral Sayyari said: “we’re not a threat to any country, the message of peace and friendship is our main message in conducting various naval exercises.”

In response to questions about the military’s policies towards the three islands, Admiral Sayyari emphasized: “the three islands are an integral part of the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and nobody has the right to allegedly claim these islands.”