Kia said that based on the reports available, the attack on oil tanker(s) by the pirates on Saturday has nothing to do with the NITC tanker(s).

He said his company had taken necessary preventive measures in connection with its tankers to make them immune of any attack in the dangerous spots in the waters.

He added that while enjoying support of the Islamic Republic Army's Navy Force, the oil tankers of the NITC fleet are controlled and monitored in passing highly dangerous regions from arrival to departure to the areas.

He emphasized that none of the oil tankers of the NITC fleet had crossed Aden Gulf or Bab-el-Mandeb Strait in the past 48 hours to be the target of the pirates.

To the end of his remarks, he thanked navy forces of the Islamic Republic Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) for supporting and defending the NITC oil tankers against the pirates.