"An Iranian oil tanker was attacked by a vessel belonging to pirates.But they fled after the presence of the Iranian navy 27th flotilla of warshipsat the right time," said Iranian navy commander Siavash Jareh.
He told the ISNA news agency that the Somali gunmen later returned, bringingseven extra high-speed boats.
They were forced to flee, however, when Iranian weapons damaged some oftheir vessels.
The unnamed tanker is safe and undamaged and is proceeding with a navy escort.
