Iran Navy saves cargo ship from piratesThe naval forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have thwarted an attempt by pirates to hijack an Iranian cargo ship off Pakistan's southern coasts.
The Zarsan was attacked by two pirate boats 30 miles from Port of Karachi in the Indian Ocean on Saturday.
The timely response of the Iranian Navy warship saved the vessel from the attack.
Saturday's incident brings to six the number of foiled pirate attacks on Iranian vessels since the start of the new Persian Calendar year (March 21st).
In January, Iran's Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said the Islamic Republic plans to boost its naval presence in the Indian Ocean to protect the country's regional interests.
“Apart from the Gulf of Aden, we have interests north of the Indian Ocean and thus we need to have a constant presence there,” Sayyari said.
The Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008, when Somali raiders hijacked the Iranian-chartered cargo ship MV Delight off the coast of Yemen.
The Gulf of Aden -- which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea -- is an important energy corridor, particularly because the Persian Gulf oil is shipped to the West through the Suez Canal.
http://presstv.com/detail/177472.html
Topic: Iran Navy saves cargo ship from pirates (Read 237 times)