The Iranian Navy has successfully thwarted a pirate attack on a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said.
Over the past few days, the 35th fleet of the Iranian Navy saved a ship in the Gulf of Aden from pirates who were equipped with different types of weapons and forced them to flee, Sayyari said.
He said that the flotilla, consisting of Bandar Abbas logistic warship and Alvand missile-launching war vessel, has been sent on a mission in the Gulf of Aden to send the Iranian nation’s message of peace and friendship to other countries, ensure safety for the Iranian vessels against pirates and safeguard the country’s interests.
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 also been conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 in order to safeguard 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.
The Iranian commander also said that the Islamic Republic plans to manufacture new classes of destroyers in the near future.
Sayyari also said that Iran plans to launch the domestically-built Fateh submarine by the end of the current Iranian calendar year which falls on March 20, 2016.
In recent years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems.
The Iranian Navy launched its first domestically-built destroyer, Jamaran, in the Persian Gulf in February 2010. The 1,420-ton destroyer is equipped with modern radar systems and other electronic warfare capabilities. It also features highly advanced anti-aircraft, anti-surface and anti-subsurface systems.
Iran has also launched different classes of advanced submarines including Fateh, Ghadir, Qaem, Nahang, Tareq and Sina.
Iran has repeatedly assured other nations, especially its neighbors, that its military might poses no threat to other countries, insisting that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.
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