Iran in Gulf of Aden to combat pirates: Sayyari

TEHRAN, Apr. 19 (MNA) – Iran’s Navy Commander Rear-Admiral said on Saturday that Iran’s presence in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandab is due to request by IMO to combat maritime terrorism. Habibollah Sayyari said on Saturday that Iranian Navy's 34th fleet of warships was present in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandab based on international rules and upon a request by International Maritime Organization to combat any sort of maritime terrorism. The Islamic Republic’s Navy is patrolling around the northern Indian Ocean in full might and in accordance with the international regulations, he added. Sayyari rejected reports that the country’s fleet has been warned to leave the Gulf of Aden, adding that Navy forces have been able to fully and decisively combat maritime terrorism, protecting many cargo ships and oil tankers from pirates. Sayyari noted that the Iranian fleet is keeping security over maritime transport routes. According to UN Security Council resolutions, different countries can send their warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia against the pirates and even, with prior notice to Somali government, enter the territorial waters of that country in pursuit of Somali sea pirates.