The Iranian navy has said its ships have foiled a major pirate attack on a domestic tanker in the Indian Ocean.
Deputy commander of operations Rear Admiral Siavash Jarreh said 12 boats with armed men on board approached the unnamed vessel on Wednesday morning.
The country’s 28th fleet, comprised of the destroyer Alborz, auxiliary ship Bandar Abbas and the Yunes submarine, together with a Bell 212 Twin Huey helicopter, headed to the scene following a distress call.
Marines managed to deter the attack after an exchange of fire.
Iranian forces also stopped two attempted hijackings of vessels during October 2013.
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