Iran's navy helped a U.S.-flagged cargo ship that was attacked by pirates off the United Arab Emirates, according to the vessel's owner, Maersk Line Ltd.

The Iranian navy was the first to respond to the initial distress call from the Maersk Texas, Kevin Speers, senior director of marketing at Maersk Line, said by phone today. The vessel was attacked by several skiffs and armed guards on board returned fire, the company said in an earlier statement.

The incident happened at about noon northeast of Fujairah, the biggest port in the Middle East for refueling oil tankers, Maersk said. Iran's navy provided guidance to the crew of the Maersk Texas by radio, Speers said, declining to comment further pending a debriefing.

U.S., U.K., Chinese, French, German and Russian negotiators -- the so-called P5+1 group -- are meeting with Iranian officials in Baghdad today over the Persian Gulf country's nuclear program. The West suspects Iran's goal is to develop a weapon, while Iran contends it is for civilian purposes.

The European Union's counter-piracy force said it had reviewed the incident and determined there was "no case of piracy and it's a false alarm," Timo Lange, a spokesman for Northwood, England-based EU Navfor, said by phone today. EU Navfor operates nine warships and five maritime patrol aircraft as part of an operation combating piracy in the region, according to data on its website.

HMAS Melbourne

Maersk got its information from the captain of the Maersk Texas and will investigate EU Navfor's assertion, Speers said.

The Australian frigate HMAS Melbourne was dispatched to help the Maersk Texas, Lieutenant Commander Mark Hankey at Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain said by phone. The command is headed by Vice Admiral Mark Fox, leader of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet.

The warship launched a helicopter that proceeded to the merchant vessel, which had exchanged gunfire with a skiff located within a group of about 20 boats, according to Hankey. The task force has yet to assess whether pirates were in any of the skiffs, he said. The Gulf of Oman, which Fujairah faces, is noted for fishing and smuggling activity, Hankey said.

Speers said the crew of Maersk Texas was unharmed and there were no signs of injuries to the pirates. The attackers fled the scene shortly after they were thwarted, according to Speers, who said the vessel had just passed through the Strait of Hormuz and was heading for the U.S.

Iran is one of 25 countries deploying warships to protect against piracy off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, according to Aliakbar Marzban, a London-based Iranian diplomat. Two hijacked vessels were seized and 21 pirates arrested in rescue operations staged by Iran's navy in March and April, he said in an e-mailed statement May 22.

Fujairah is close to the Strait of Hormuz, a transit point for about a fifth of the world's globally traded oil.


Good job Iran!...

I'm not sure about this, I'm gonna wait to jump on the "yay Iran" bandwagon.

whoever wrote that story seems a bit confused too... or maybe i am, not sure...

I can't imagine Iran doing something like this, Muck Muck Iditarod seems way too arrogant to help the U.S. in any way.

I think you are on our side moe

what side would that be? if Iran shows some decency, i will applaud them the same as any people that helps another people. But in this article, i don't really see where Iran actually did anything.

The taskforce is denying the details of this. Hell, if it did happen the Iranians were probably the idiots trying to hijack this vessel.

And If it is True Will you join The Peace Train?

I heard on the news last night the Iran Nuke conference broke up and the participates agreed to meet again in the future because no one could agree on anything. Apparently, Iran was willing to give up "nothing".

That is a negative input into a positive thread and

Some people are not happy with peaceful soundings.

The war drums have to beat because that is they way [They Roll]

All that needs to be established here on this thread is whether or not this post is True or False.

I thought it was for OP to decide what is and what not!
The Post definitely is true,more of an established Fact than the original story.
Also,the opening post contains the Story about the Nuclear Negotiations with Iran,along with the Rescue-Story!

Besides,there is nothing unusual with Sailors helping each other out,even though they belong to different somewhat belligerent sides!
Then also,USA and Iran aren't at War with each other,and might never be!
So sometimes the wrong side is accused with beating the Wardrums!


And Iran owed the USA one since January!

seems they might still owe!

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/politics/foreign-policy/war-terror/irans-navy-claims-it-rescued-us-ship-pirates


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57440710/pirate-attack-on-u.s.-flagged-ship-foiled/

i think it is up to the mods to decide, they are the "peacemakers" in here. me personally, i don't really care who posts what, not that i could do anything about it anyway. plus that, your point about sailors helping each other out is what matters out at sea.

It sure is!!...My dad served 7 years US Navy during WWII, he told me some extraordinary stories....

If you do not understand the rules to the posts on threads, please read them again. You have made many mistakes about what is appropriate and what is not since you recently joined these forums.

To me, my post was specifically to the point of evolving US Iranian relations which, to me, is what this thread is about.

It is not about what you decide it is about or what you decide should be posted.

agreed, thats why there are mods here.
post whatever you want, i have no problems with it

My sentiments entirely moe

that what the forums are for, everyone has an opinion, and we learn from others opinions, even if we don't agree. keep it up, we are doing good.

You do realize that you just posted the exact opposite of what you posted before?

No...I was making a point about the panties in a bunch mob...cry babies....complainers..etc etc etc