Iranian parliament speaker expressed Tehran’s preparedness to help Somalia in its fight against the terrorist groups and assist the African country with the anti-piracy operations.
“Iran is ready to offer Somalia help in training the armed forces for the fight against terrorism,” Ali Larijani said in a meeting with Somali Parliament Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari held in Djibouti.
“Given the presence of pirates in that region (off Somali coasts), Iran is ready to cooperate with Somalia to counter pirates,” the Iranian speaker added.
Somalia, located in the Horn of Africa, has been the scene of clashes between government forces and al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants since 2006.
The group wants to overthrow the government and has been carrying out a wave of bombings and terrorist attacks across the country.
Piracy is another problem the African country has been grappling with for years. The pirates use the Gulf of Aden, off the coasts of Somalia, to attack vessels from different countries and hold the people aboard hostage.
Since November 2008, the Iranian Navy has conducted anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mandeb strait to protect the country’s cargo ships and oil tankers against pirates.
Under the terms of several UN Security Council resolutions, nations can deploy warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia to protect their vessels against the pirates and, after giving notice to Somali government, enter Somali territorial in pursuit of the pirates.
Via: http://www.tasnimnews.com
