According to Iran’s Navy, pirates aboard 8 armed vessels wanted to hijack the Iranian tanker but were forced to flee the scene shortly after the naval forces laid heavy fire on them.
In a similar incident earlier this month, servicemen on board the 30th fleet thwarted a pirate attack on an Iranian-flagged ship around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The 30th fleet of warships, comprised of “Alvand” destroyer and “Bushehr” logistic warship, was deployed to the international waters in April.
The fleet is planned to sail across the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the northern parts of the Indian Ocean as part of missions to protect the Iranian vessels against pirate attacks in various shipping routes.
In recent years, Iran’s naval forces have increased their presence in the international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and oil tankers.
In line with international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian Navy has also been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.