Tehran | On Tuesday, the ISNA news agency said, quoting a military source, that pirates had tried for the second time in two weeks to storm an Iranian tanker in the Gulf of Aden.

The military source said that the tanker was heading to the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait on Monday when six pirates on board four boats tried to seize it, but they were forced to flee after warning shots from the Iranian navy.

On October 16, pirates have already launched an attack on a convoy of two Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Aden. The Iranian navy accompanying the tankers opened fire on them, causing them to flee.

The Bab el-Mandeb strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is used by many tankers traveling to Europe via the Suez Canal north.

Iranian naval forces have been patrolling the area since 2008 to protect container ships and tankers from Iran or chartered from other countries.

The attacks are usually the work of Somali pirates. According to the UK Maritime Safety Agency (UKMTO), its frequency has decreased in recent years, thanks to security efforts deployed in international waters.