TEHRAN (Tasnim) � Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Gholam Reza Khadem Bigham announced that the fleets of the Navy have escorted over 3,500 ships on the high seas across the world in recent years.





Up to now, more than 3,500 ships have been escorted in the international waters, Rear Admiral Khadem Bigham told the Tasnim News Agency, adding that 1,342 of the escorts have been carried out over the past months.

He further highlighted the importance of the Navy�s presence in high seas, saying that in addition to large merchant ships, the naval forces provide security for small ships and fishing boats in the face of pirates and inclement weather.

The commander also pointed to the increase of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as the main routes of merchant ships, saying that given the development of Iran�s international trade, the presence of the Navy, as a strategic force, in the waters is a necessity.

Earlier in July, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari referred to the Navy�s international missions to combat piracy and secure naval routes, saying that more than 3,000 ships have been escorted by the Navy�s fleets in the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mandeb.

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

By Tasnim News Agency