Iran reaffirms measures to combat piracy

Tehran, Dec 22, IRNA - Iran on Monday affirmed national resolve to confront Somali pirates who have hijacked Iranian leased cargo ship.

Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hassan Qashqavi, confirmed that Iran has
sent a warship to the Gulf of Aden.

"Tehran is determined to confront the prevalent phenomenon of piracy
in the area."
An Iranian-leased cargo ship 'Delight' was hijacked in the Indian
Ocean on November 19 off Somalia located in eastern Africa, bordering
the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia.

The ship was carrying wheat to Iran with 25 crew on board from Iran,
the Philippines, India, Pakistan and Ghana.

"Following the recent moves of the pirates and the mounting insecurity
in that international waterway, Iran decided, based on the resolutions
adopted by the United Nations Security Council, to send its warship to
the region in order to act in cooperation with the international
community to safeguard ships safe passage in the open seas," Qashqavi
said.

Speaking to reporters at his weekly press conference, he added that
Iran would decisively act to free the Iranian ship.

End