Tehran: Iran's state TV reports that the country's Navy has opened fire on pirates to foil an attack on an Iranian oil tanker near the Gulf of Aden.
The late Sunday report says the Iranian Navy rushed to the site earlier in the day after it received a distress signal from the tanker, which was under attack from some 35 pirate boats.
The report says the pirate boats fled after the Iranian forces opened fire. It did not report any casualties.
From time to time, Iran announces the rescue of Iranian and other vessels from pirate attacks.
Iranian vessels are part of an international flotilla of warships that patrols the Gulf of Aden near the entrance to the Red Sea, to protect shipping from Somalia-based pirates.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, February 06, 2012, 16:44