Chinese Media Praise Iranian Navy for Rescuing Freighter

TEHRAN (FNA)- A large number of the Chinese media lauded the Iranian Navy for rescuing a Chinese freighter which had been seized by pirates 45 miles off Iran's Southern port city of Bandar Jask on Friday.

The Iranian Navy freed the Chinese freighter and its crew which had been hijacked in the Gulf of Oman after receiving requests from China's government, the Iranian Army said in a statement on Saturday. According to the statement, Chinese media like "China.org", "Xinhua", Global Times", "China Daily" and the "People" newspaper in their reports on the event stressed the importance of the Iranian Navy's timely measure in saving the Chinese vessel, and described it as a sign of high power and capabilities of Iran's naval forces. The Chinese embassy in Tehran had earlier confirmed that a cargo ship named "Xianghuamen" was kidnapped by pirates in waters close to Iran. The embassy contacted Iranian officials and requested release of the Chinese vessel and its crew. The Iranian official also said that the vessel carried ironware and was heading towards the Iranian port of Imam Khomeini. In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian naval forces have been conducting anti-piracy patrols in international waters off its coasts since November 2008 to safeguard maritime trade, and in particular ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran. (FNA)