In a statement on Wednesday, the Bangladesh Navy said in recent years, the Iranian Navy has increased its presence in maritime routes to protect merchant ships and oil tankers against pirates.
The Iranian navy has extended its operational range to the Gulf of Aden in line with international efforts to campaign against piracy, the statement added.
The Iranian Navy’s 49th flotilla of warships was among those taking part in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Multilateral Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise-2017 (IMMSAREX-17) held in Bangladesh from November 26 to 28.
The Iranian naval fleet, comprising Sablan destroyer and Bandar Abbas logistic-combat warship, participated in the international maritime exercise after sailing more than 3,800 nautical miles to reach the South Asian country.
Ships, naval chiefs, high ups and maritime experts from 32 countries, including 23 member countries and nine observers from the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), took part in the event.
In recent years, Iran’s naval forces have increased their presence in high seas to secure naval routes and protect merchant vessels and oil tankers against pirates.
In line with international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian Navy has also been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.