Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari denied on Saturday claims by US officials that Iran's naval vessels have left the area of the Gulf of Aden after being warned by US forces, emphasizing that the navy's 34th fleet is now at the entrance to the Bab el-Mandeb strait and is "patrolling the area and carrying out its mission."
The commander of the navy said one of the "strategic goals" of the navy is to protect the security of shipping lanes for Iranian ships, adding, "The process is continuing in the desired way," IRNA reported.
The fleet, comprised of the support vessel Bushehr and the destroyer Alborz, set sail for the Gulf of Aden early this month.
Reuters quoted a US official as claiming on Thursday that Iranian ships are moving away from Yemen.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, called the move a "promising sign" which can help deescalate the conflict in Yemen.
Iran says it is not providing military support to Houthi rebels in Yemen, calling for international efforts to help resolve the crisis by using political means and facilitate the supply of humanitarian aid to the people in the war-wracked Arab country.
