TEHRAN (Tasnim) A top Iranian Navy commander announced that the Navy forces have rescued 14 kidnapped Iranian fishermen stranded in international waters.Lieutenant Navy Commander for Operations Admiral Siavash Jarreh said the Navys 29th Fleet rescued fishermen of a fishing dhow who had been attacked by pirates earlier.
He said the dhow had been in international waters when it was pirated.
According to the commander, the pirates took the vessel to an unidentified location and left it there getting away with everything that was of value.
After it was reported that the dhow had been missing, the 29th Fleets help and rescue team started searching for the vessel, he said, adding that the dhow was found in a week and the 14 fishermen on board were rescued.
Admiral Jarreh noted that the fleet also saved another Iranian commercial vessel that had been attacked by pirates a few days earlier.
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 countrys cargo ships and oil tankers against pirates.
By Tasnim News Agency
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