TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iranian Navy's 29th fleet of warships foiled attacks on the country's cargo ship which had been besieged by pirates in the Red Sea, a senior navy commander said Saturday.Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Navy for Operations Admiral Siavash Jarehannounced on Saturday that the countrys naval forces foiled pirate attacks against an Iranian cargo ship in the Red Sea earlier in the morning.
The Iranian forces managed to save the vessel and forced the pirates to escape the scene after heavy armed clashes with pirates for several hours, Jareh added.
He said that the vessel was partially damaged during the clashes, adding that the maintenance team of the Iranian naval fleet has repaired the ship.
Irans naval forces have increased their presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for trade vessels and oil tankers.
Since November 2008, the Iranian navy has conducted anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mendeb strait to protect the country's cargo ships and oil tankers against pirates.
Under the terms of several UN Security Council resolutions, nations can deploy warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia to protect their vessels against the pirates.
By Tasnim News Agency
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