Iran Navy sends flotilla to Gulf of Aden

A flotilla of Iranian warships has left the country’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas for the Gulf of Aden in a bid to maintain the Islamic Republic’s power in the high seas.

Iran’s 46th naval fleet, comprised of Sabalan destroyer and Lavan logistic warship, embarked on the voyage on Monday through a ceremony attended by Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari.

The Navy commander reiterated the necessary instructions to the naval forces for conducting their mission.

The fleet is tasked with maintaining security for Iranian ships and countering Iranophobic plots and campaigns launched by the enemies of the Islamic Republic.

The 45th flotilla of the Iranian Navy docked at Bandar Abbas earlier on Monday after carrying out its two-month mission.

Back in February, Sayyari said the Iranian naval forces were making efforts to improve security in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb​, considering security of those regions as top priority.

He added that Iranian naval forces had escorted 3,850 Iranian commercial and tanker ships as well as 25 foreign vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden regions where pirates are active.

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 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.