Regional states astonished by Iran's anti-piracy operations: Cmr.

Regional states astonished by Iran's anti-piracy operations: Cmr.

Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says regional countries are amazed by Iran's power in fighting pirates. (File photo)

Sun Jun 10, 2012 2:38PM GMT

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In that operation, all countries, especially regional ones, were amazed by Iran's power wondering how Iran had been able to carry out rescue operations without harm coming to the ships, hostages, and even the pirates [involved].”
Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari

Naval Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says the Iranian Navy's rescue operations for Iran-owned ships attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden have amazed regional countries.

“In those operations, all countries, especially regional ones, were amazed by Iran's power, wondering how Iran had been able to carry out rescue operations without harming the ships, hostages, and even the pirates [involved],” the commander said on Sunday.

Addressing a ceremony held to unveil the first computer game developed by the Iranian Army, Sayyari said global economic losses resulting from piracy amount to about USD 12 billion a year.

“Today, the global economy is being threatened by pirates and if we are not careful, our country’s economy will be damaged as well,” Sayyari added.

Turning to Iranian Army’s first computer game, he said computer games represent technological prowess of a country and "this game has tried to inform [Iranian] youths of all the capabilities and the high technological position of the [Iranian] Navy."

“This game shows why pirates are based in the Gulf of Aden and why we are defending our interests in that region,” Sayyari noted.

Iran's Navy has been increasing its naval presence in the international waters in recent years. In addition, in line with the international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos has described the anti-piracy efforts by Iran's Navy as “effective.”

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly asserted that its overseas naval presence is meant to convey a message of peace and friendship to regional countries.