Tehran, April 29, IRNA – The 34th flotilla of the Iranian Navy is set to arrive in Red Sea in near future, a senior navy official said on Wednesday.

Navy's Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Mahmoud Mousavi said the Navy's 34th flotilla is currently patrolling in the waters of the Bab Al-Mandab Strait.

He stressed that the 34th flotilla, which comprises the Bushehr logistic vessel and Alborz destroyer, left Iran's southern port city of Bandar Abbas on a 90-day mission for the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait on April 8.

Mousavi said fighting pirates and ensuring safety for Iranian vessels sailing in high seas are among objectives of the Iranian flotilla.

In recent years, Iran’s Navy has increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.

In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has been also conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 in order to safeguard merchant containers and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran or other countries.

Iran’s Navy has managed to foil several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers during its missions in international waters.

By IRNA