Iran Navy saves oil-tanker from piratesThe Islamic Republic of Iran's Navy warship fleet has thwarted an attempt by pirates to highjack an Iranian supertanker in the Indian Ocean.
On Sunday, Iran's supertanker Voyager 1 was attacked by two pirate boats off Pakistan's southwestern coast in the international waters of the Indian Ocean.
The oil-tanker, however, was saved thanks to the timely measure taken by the Iranian Navy warship and continued on its way to the Far East without suffering any loss or dely.
Sunday's incident brings to five the number of foiled pirate attacks on Iranian vessels since the start of the new Persian 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.
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