AN Iranian naval fleet foiled a pirate attack on an Iranian merchant vessel in the Red Sea, reports Agence France-Presse.
'A suspicious boat with 12 armed people on board approached the Iranian merchant ship in Bab Al-Mandab,' said the state news agency Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
The IRNA declared a squadron came into confrontation with pirates in the Red Sea, adding that the invading boat left the area after the escort flotilla headed by the Jamaran destroyer opened fire at the vessel.
The incident comes after the Pentagon declared that an Iranian ship seized an American military unmanned research vessel in the Gulf but released it after a US Navy patrol boat and helicopter were deployed to the location.
Nevertheless, iran stepped up its naval presence in the Gulf of Aden after several attacks by Somalia-based pirates between 2000 and 2011.
SeaNews Turkey
'A suspicious boat with 12 armed people on board approached the Iranian merchant ship in Bab Al-Mandab,' said the state news agency Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
The IRNA declared a squadron came into confrontation with pirates in the Red Sea, adding that the invading boat left the area after the escort flotilla headed by the Jamaran destroyer opened fire at the vessel.
The incident comes after the Pentagon declared that an Iranian ship seized an American military unmanned research vessel in the Gulf but released it after a US Navy patrol boat and helicopter were deployed to the location.
Nevertheless, iran stepped up its naval presence in the Gulf of Aden after several attacks by Somalia-based pirates between 2000 and 2011.
SeaNews Turkey