TEHRAN – Navy chief Admiral Shahram Irani said Wednesday Iran would escort its commercial ships to the Red Sea, adding that the country would be prepared to escort ships from other nations.
“The Navy is carrying out a mission to escort Iranian commercial ships to the Red Sea and our Jamaran frigate is present in the Gulf of Aden in this view,” Irani said.
Irani’s comments came a day after the European Union’s naval mission to the Red Sea announced it would require more combat ships. The mission’s commander, Rear Admiral Vasileios Gryparis, added that its operations had not been affected by the Iranian weekend attack on Israel.
Hours before the attack, IRGC forces near the Strait of Hormuz seized MSC Aries, a Portuguese-flagged container ship that Tehran said is linked to Israel.
Other vessels suspected of links to Israel had earlier been targeted in the Red Sea by Yemen. The Yemeni forces say they are acting in support of Palestinians in Gaza amid Israel’s atrocious war.
President Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday said, “Our armed forces are ensuring security and peace and establishing sovereignty across the region, and are completely reliable.” 
The Iranian president urged regional countries to rely on their own assets and Muslim forces rather than foreign interference and partnerships with Israel.