IRGC releases video of confrontation with US in Arabian Sea

        Tehran (IRNA) - The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has released images of the confrontation against an alleged US piracy act targeting an Iranian fuel shipment.

        The incident took place on 25 October 2021, but the information and videos were not made public until 3 November.

        Here is the statement from the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA):

"During this episode, US forces confiscated a tanker carrying a cargo of Iranian oil in the strategic Arabian Sea, transferring its shipment of crude to another vessel.

The IRGC therefore organised a maritime operation against the second ship, landing its helicopters on the deck and diverting the ship to Iranian waters.

The footage shows the incident in detail, first showing the Pashtun naval intelligence command and intelligence gathering network detecting the ship carrying the stolen crude.

The IRGC Navy is then seen sending its rapid reaction units to the area to recover the cargo.

The commandos then embarked on a helicopter operation, which included landing their aircraft on the second ship, disembarking the forces and recovering the stolen cargo.

Meanwhile, IRGC drone units, speedboats and other naval vessels are supporting the operation.

The USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) and the USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), two American destroyers, were then seen approaching a second tanker to prevent its recovery, but were warned by the Pasdaran Navy.

The relayed images of the operation, meanwhile, show the American ships involved and their crews in vivid detail.

A statement issued by the IRGC's public relations office said that after the helicopter operation, the US forces started to pursue the second ship with the help of several helicopters and warships. However, they stopped before capturing it.

US forces then sent other warships to block the ship carrying the stolen crude.

"The Americans decided not to continue the operation and left the area after they realized that the brave and ardent fighters of the Pasdaran Navy were ready and determined to face any adventurism and threat against the interests of the Iranian nation," the statement added.

Thanking the Corps for the success of the operation, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji said that "Iran's enemies" had resorted to piracy once they realised that the Islamic Republic was determined to export its fuel, despite US sanctions against the country."

Source: IRNA