Footage Shows IRGC Navy’s Foiling of US Act of Piracy (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) released footage of its confrontation last month against a US act of piracy targeting an Iranian fuel shipment.
The incident took place on October 25, but news and footage of which were released on Wednesday.
During the episode, American forces confiscated the tanker that was carrying a cargo of Iranian oil in the strategic Sea of Oman, transferring its consignment of crude to another vessel.
The IRGC then staged a maritime operation against the second vessel, landing its helicopters on its deck and navigating the ship towards Iranian waters.
The footage depicts the incident in great detail, first showing the IRGC Navy's intelligence command and intelligence gathering network detecting the vessel laden with the stolen crude.
The IRGC Navy is subsequently seen dispatching its rapid reaction units to the area to seize back the cargo.
The commandos then engage in a heliborne operation, which features their aircraft landing on the second vessel, the forces disembarking, and their recapturing the stolen consignment.
The IRGC Navy's drone units, speedboats, and other vessels are, meanwhile, seen assisting the operation.
USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), two American destroyers, are then seen approaching second tanker to prevent its recapture, but are warned away by the IRGC Navy.
The footage relayed from the operation, meanwhile, depicts the involved American vessels and their crew in striking detail.
A statement issued by the IRGC's public relations office, said after the heliborne operation by the IRGC, the US forces started pursuing the second vessel using several helicopters and warships. They, however, stopped short of capturing it.
The US forces then dispatched more warships to block the vessel that was carrying the stolen crude.
"The Americans (though) decided against continuing the operation and left the area after understanding the brave and ardent fighters of the IRGC Navy's readiness and resolve for confronting whatever adventurism and threat against the interests of the Iranian nation," the statement added.
Thanking the Corps for the successful operation, Iran's Oil Minister Javad Owji said "Iran's enemies" had resorted to the act of piracy after realizing that the Islamic Republic was determined to export its fuel, despite the United States' sanctions targeting the country.
