Asia-PacificIran

Iranian Navy Rescues Filipino Cargo Vessel in High Seas

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Iranian Navy warships rescued a Filipino cargo vessel after fierce battles with pirates in the Sea of Oman on Sunday.

The timely presence and action of the Iranian Navy’s warships thwarted the attack by pirate speed boats, equipped with various weapons, on the Philippines-flagged Panama-gade cargo ship in the waters of the Sea of Oman, forcing the pirates to flee the scene.

The Iranian warships escorted the Filipino trade vessel to safe waters following the operation.

Last month, Iranian Navy warships rescued 2 oil tankers in the Gulf of Aden after battles with pirates. The Iranian Navy’s 33rd Flotilla first thwarted the pirate attack on an Iranian oil tanker in the waters of the Gulf of Aden, and forced them to flee the scene.

The pirates later came back with 5 speed boats to attack another Iranian oil tanker, but they fled the scene after the Iranian warships rushed to the rendezvous point.

The Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008, when Somali raiders hijacked the Iranian-chartered cargo ship, MV Delight, off the coast of Yemen.

According to UN Security Council resolutions, different countries can send their warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia against the pirates and even with prior notice to Somali government enter the territorial waters of that country in pursuit of Somali sea pirates.

The Gulf of Aden – which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea – is an important energy corridor, particularly because Persian Gulf oil is shipped to the West via the Suez Canal.

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