Chinese FM thanks Iran for rescue operation

[Sasquatch]

-- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has expressed gratitude to Iran for its successful rescue of a hijacked China-linked freighter and the 28 Chinese crew members on board.

In a letter delivered Saturday to his Iranian counterpart Ali-Akbar Salehi, Yang said that China is ready to work with Iran to further promote the development of their friendly and cooperative relationship.

Panama-registered cargo ship Xianghuamen was hijacked on Friday morning by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Oman near Iran's southern port of Chabahar.

At an urgent request of the Chinese embassy, Iran swiftly dispatched warships to the waters and carried out a successful rescue mission.

 

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

I think USA is behind these people.


Iran Suspects Political Motives behind Piracy in Region
TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Iranian Navy commander raised the possibility of politically-tainted support for piracy in the region.




Somali pirates are poor and simple people without any expertise and there might be sort of support behind their activities, Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Gholam-Reza Khadem Biqam told reporters on Saturday.

He added that acting as a pirate needs special knowledge and expertise and pirates' activities are impossible without guidance, support and logistics.

The commander added that pirates usually use hostages as a human shield, but Iranian Navy commandos managed to release hostages without any casualties and arrested 21 pirates in the past two operations.

Iran's naval forces on Friday rescued a Chinese freighter which had been seized by pirates 45 miles off Iran's Southern port city of Bandar Jask.

"The pirates seized the ship in international waters, 45 miles off Bandar Jask, but it was freed through the successful operations of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and nine pirates were arrested," Deputy Head of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization Saeed Izadian told FNA on Friday.

"The Chinese ship, called Xianghuamen, had 28 crew members aboard and was sailing under a Panamanian flag," Izadian added.

The Iranian official also said that the vessel carried ironware and was heading towards the Iranian port of Imam Khomeini.

In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian naval forces have been conducting anti-piracy patrols in international waters off its coasts since November 2008 to safeguard maritime trade, and in particular ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.
Fars News Agency :: Iran Suspects Political Motives behind Piracy in Region

 

[ahfatzia]

Professionalism clear shown by the Iranian Navy. Well done!.

China, instead of spending her resources to safeguard her commercial passages in these trouble seas, should have some kind bilateral agreements with Iran to protect her interests.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Iran did a great job rescuing the sailors from the pirates! Thank you Iran!

 

[itaskol]

did Iran navy kill all of those pirates in the rescue mission?

 

[ephone]

China should thank Iran for the help.

We should have some cooperation with Iran to fight pirates. BTW, I hope by Iran's law, those pirates can be hanged.

 

[tvsram1992]

Nice work Iran . Now you can expect some more betterment in relations with China . It may prove worthy enough in case of any Anti Iran measures .