Iran rejects report of Yemen capturing Iranian arms ship

Iranian Navy’s Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Gholam-Reza Khadem Bigham has rejected claims about the detention of an Iranian arms ship in Yemen’s port of Saleef.

“I do not confirm this report and I think that many such reports are political games,” Khadem Bigham said on Sunday.

On Saturday, the London-based Arab daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat reported that Yemen’s Navy had detained an Iranian ship ‘containing weapons’ in the port of Saleef.

Referring to Iran’s current Velayat 91 naval drill, Khadem Bigham said there has been no report about foreign vessels or warships entering the area of maneuver.

Iran’s Navy launched the six-day naval maneuvers on December 28 in order to display the country’s capabilities to defend its maritime borders and maintain durable peace in the region.

The exercises cover a vast area including the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman, the north of the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

The Iranian commander added that the Navy is conducting the drills in complete accordance with international regulations.

He also commented on the security of the trade routes of commercial ships and said Iranian forces are protecting these routes, and vessels are crossing the region with complete immunity.