Image Credits : Reuters
Iran’s Alborz warship has entered the Red Sea, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency’s report on Monday. This comes at a critical juncture as the Israel-Hamas conflict unfolds, and vessels face attacks by forces allied to Tehran on the key shipping route.
While specific details regarding the Alborz’s mission remain undisclosed, Iranian warships have been actively operating in open waters since 2009. The stated objectives include securing shipping routes, combating piracy, and undertaking various tasks to maintain maritime stability.
The Yemen-based Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea since November, ostensibly in support of the Palestinian group Hamas amid its conflict with Israel. The attacks have prompted major shipping companies to opt for the longer and more expensive route around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope instead of navigating through the Suez Canal, which handles approximately 12% of global trade.
According to Tasnim, the Alborz warship entered the Red Sea via the Bab al-Mandab Strait, although the exact timing was not specified. Unconfirmed reports circulating on social media suggest its arrival late on Saturday.
The Alvand class destroyer, part of the Iranian navy’s 34th fleet alongside the Bushehr support vessel, has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden, the northern Indian Ocean, and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait since 2015, as reported by Iran’s Press TV.
The U.S. Fifth Fleet refrained from commenting on the unconfirmed reports of the Iranian warship’s movements.
Recent attacks by Houthi militants on a Maersk container vessel prompted the company to temporarily halt all sailings through the Red Sea for 48 hours.
It was previously stated on December 2 by Iran’s Navy Head, Shahram Irani, that the Alborz was actively involved in missions within the Red Sea. Additionally, on December 14, Iran’s Defence Minister, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, asserted that no moves could be made in a region where they have predominance.
The entry of the Alborz into the Red Sea adds a layer of complexity to an already tense geopolitical landscape. The motivations behind Iran’s naval activities in the region continue to be a subject of concern and scrutiny on the global stage.