Yemen Monitor/Tehran/Special
A senior Iranian admiral announced on Tuesday that his country has been securing its shipping lanes in the Red Sea for four years.
“The army’s navy has been tasked with securing the security of the country’s shipping lanes in the Red Sea for four years,” Iranian Navy Commander Shahram Irani was quoted as saying by Persian-language media.
He added: “This means that the security of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s shipping lanes from the Gulf of Aden to the entrance of the Suez Canal is now fully ensured.”
Tehran faces accusations of being present in the Red Sea to support the Houthi armed group. Last week, the New York Times reported, citing US officials, that a cyber-attack had been carried out against an Iranian ship in the Gulf of Aden that was believed to be providing the Houthis with information and data to target naval ships.
Since November, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait in response to the Israeli offensive on Gaza. They have said they are targeting ships linked to Israel.
The Iranian Navy’s presence in the Red Sea has been a source of concern for some countries in the region.
Iran has denied the allegations and has said that its presence in the Red Sea is aimed at ensuring the safety of its shipping lanes and at combating piracy and maritime terrorism.
In response, the U.S. -UK have been carrying out a campaign of airstrikes against the Iranian-backed Houthi fighters since January 11. As a result, the Houthis have announced the expansion of their operations to include US and British ships.
The Iranian Navy’s presence in the Red Sea is likely to continue to be a source of tension in the region.
