Iranian naval forces seized 2 US unmanned vessels: Chief

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The Chief Commander of Iran’s Army Navy Force Rear Admiral Shahram Irani confirmed the seizure of two US unmanned vessels by the naval forces.

During a welcoming ceremony for the 84th Naval Fleet at the end of its mission to international waters, Irani pointed out that the 84th Fleet managed to carry out escort operations and establish maritime security at the highest possible level thanks to its powerful presence in the depths of the oceans, especially in the Red Sea.

Admiral Irani stressed that the US should know that it must comply with international laws of navigation, affirming that with its powerful presence in the region, Iran will deal decisively with any move that endangers the security and safety of shipping.

It is noteworthy that in early September, Iranian state media reported that the Iranian naval forces seized a foreign-registered ship smuggling fuel out of the Gulf and arrested its crew.

General Ramazan Zirahi, a commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), confirmed that "a foreign vessel carrying 757,000 liters of smuggled fuel has been seized," noting that "the seven crew members, who are foreign nationals, have been arrested and handed over to judicial authorities."

Iran has declared numerous operations in recent months that are intended to combat petroleum smuggling in the Gulf, which is where a significant portion of the world's oil is produced and transported.

Similarly, on September 2, Iranian state media reported that an Iranian naval flotilla briefly seized two American military unmanned research vessels in the Red Sea before releasing them. 

The Iranian navy's "Jamaran destroyer encountered several American military unmanned research vessels on the international shipping route on Thursday while carrying out a counter-terrorism mission in the Red Sea," Iranian state TV said.

It added that the flotilla, "after warning an American destroyer twice, seized the two drone vessels to prevent possible accidents."