TEHRAN (Tasnim) � An Iranian naval fleet on Saturday managed to rescue one of the country�s oil tankers from a pirate attack around the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a chokepoint between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa.

Early on Saturday, the Navy�s 41st flotilla of warships rushed to save the Iranian tanker when 115 armed pirates on board 12 boats, launched an attack on the vessel.

The pirates were forced to flee after they came under heavy fire from the homegrown destroyer of the Iranian Navy.

Three hours later, the pirates launched another attack on the oil tanker, which was again foiled by the flotilla.

The flotilla comprising Martyr Naqdi destroyer and Lavan logistic warship was deployed to international waters back on June 1.

In recent years, Iran�s naval forces have increased their presence in high seas to secure naval routes and protect merchant vessels and oil tankers against pirates.

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.

By Tasnim News Agency