TEHRAN -- The Iranian navy thwarted a pirate attack against an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden on Monday, the force said in a statement.
“Before crossing the Bab al-Mandeb straight, the tanker was approached by four boats carrying armed men who were prevented in their attack after the Iranian escort fired warning shots,” it said.
Iran’s navy has extended its reach in recent years, sending vessels to the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden to protect Iranian ships from Somali pirates.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a vital waterway that flows into the Red Sea, dominating global shipping routes. However, its narrow passages make it a prime spot for pirate attacks.
Last month, an Iranian warship successfully foiled a pirate attack on an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden following a heavy exchange of fire.
“The 78th naval fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, consisting of the Alborz destroyer, was attacked by five pirate boats this morning while escorting two Iranian tankers,” Navy chief Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said in an interview at the time, describing the incident as “maritime terrorism.”