Iranian navy ships have thwarted a pirate attack on a suezmax in the Bab-el-Mandeb strait off Yemen.
The unnamed laden vessel was approached by about 10 speedboats last, the Sputnik news agency said.
The navy had sent its 61st group, consisting of the Sabalan frigate and the Bandar Abbas logistical support ship, to the area, according to South Fleet commander rear admiral Afshin Tashak.
"The naval group is on a mission to provide security for the routes used by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) in the area of the Gulf of Aden and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait," Tashak said, speaking to Iranian media on Sunday.
According to Tashak, Iranian naval groups have escorted 6,000 tankers through international waters over the past decade.
