TEHRAN, Iran’s Alborz warship has navigated through the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait, entering the Red Sea, as reported by the Tasnim news agency on Monday. The deployment of the Iranian vessel comes at a time of heightened tensions concerning the crucial waterway. Although the agency did not specify the reasons for the warship’s movement, it highlighted that Iranian military vessels have been present in the area since 2009.
“The Alborz destroyer entered the Red Sea… by passing through the Bab al-Mandeb,” stated the agency, referring to the waterway at the southern end of the Red Sea, connecting to the Gulf of Aden in the Indian Ocean. Iran’s naval fleet has reportedly operated in the region since 2009, with objectives ranging from securing shipping lanes to repelling pirates.
In early December, the United States established a multinational naval task force for the Red Sea in response to missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who are aligned with Iran. These attacks prompted shipping companies to suspend passages through the area.
The Red Sea is a critical route for global trade, with approximately 12% of the world’s trade passing through, facilitated by the Suez Canal.
Tensions escalated further when US Navy helicopters on Sunday fired on Houthi rebels attempting to board a cargo ship off Yemen. Britain’s Defence Secretary Grant Shapps stated that Britain was “willing to take direct action” against the Houthis to deter threats to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry criticized the “double-standards” of some Western countries and emphasized Iran’s responsibility in preventing attacks, while Foreign Secretary David Cameron discussed the situation with his Iranian counterpart, highlighting Tehran’s support for the Houthis.
Iran has consistently denied accusations of direct involvement in Houthi attacks, asserting that the rebels act independently. The Alborz warship, known for repulsing pirate attacks in 2021, has been involved in strategic deployments, including tensions with Saudi Arabia in 2015.
By AFP
