Iranian sources have confirmed that Iranian vessels have entered the Bab Al-Mandab Strait on the southern side of the Red Sea, Iranian news agency Fars reported on Sunday.
The Iranian ships sent warning messages to American and French vessels and planes attempting to approach them when they sailed into the Strait.
Fars said that the navy’s 34th Fleet, comprised of an Alborz destroyer and a Bushehr helicopter-carrier, sent the messages to the American and French vessels and planes, which changed their routes.
Previous reports said that foreign vessels sent warning messages to Iranian vessels sailing in the Gulf of Aden and pushed them to move away from the Yemeni coast. However, Iranian Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari denied these reports.
He said that the Iranian presence in Aden keeps is in keeping with international law, noting that the Iranian vessels currently in Aden would remain until the end of their mission on 22 June. When they return to the country, the navy’s 25th would replace them in the same area.
Fars said that the Arab-Western alliance against Yemen continues to commit crimes against Yemenis and pays no attention to their own commercial vessels that are subject to piracy in the area – to whom Iran provides assistance.
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