IRIS ''Tabarzin'' () is a serving in the Southern Fleet of the

Islamic Republic of Iran Navy The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN; ), also referred as the Iranian Navy (abbreviated NEDAJA; ), is the naval warfare service branch of Iran's regular military, the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, Islamic Republic of Iran Army (''Artesh''). I ...

History

Hijack

''Tabarzin'' was hijacked on her maiden voyage from

Cherbourg Cherbourg is a former Communes of France, commune and Subprefectures in France, subprefecture located at the northern end of the Cotentin peninsula in the northwestern French departments of France, department of Manche. It was merged into the com ...

to Iran, when on 13 August 1981, approximately 15 commandos under guise of tourists aboard the rented tugboat ''Salazon'' raided the ship on territorial waters of

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

. The Azadegan Organization claimed responsibility for the takeover, stating that they have seized the ship "without a shot" and will use it as a "fighting unit" against the Iranian government. Following the event, the Iranian foreign ministry started diplomatic efforts to return the ship and released a statement, accusing the

United States government The Federal Government of the United States of America (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the Federation#Federal governments, national government of the United States. The U.S. federal government is composed of three distinct ...

of being responsible for the attack: On 18 August 1981, she harbored at the port of

Casablanca Casablanca (, ) is the largest city in Morocco and the country's economic and business centre. Located on the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast of the Chaouia (Morocco), Chaouia plain in the central-western part of Morocco, the city has a populatio ...

Morocco Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...

for a refuel and garnering food and water, after they "forced harbor authorities", according to The Christian Science Monitor report. The next day, the hijackers handed over ''Tabarzin'' to the French in

Toulon Toulon (, , ; , , ) is a city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Located on the French Riviera and the historical Provence, it is the prefecture of the Var (department), Var department. The Commune of Toulon h ...

, in exchange for permission to stay in France for a group's leader and 25 of his followers.

Refit

On 1 December 2013, ''Tabarzin'' was put into service again after an overhaul that took 30 months. Iranian media reported that in February 2019, she took part in the naval wargame Velayat 97, firing two Qader and Qadir cruise missiles at the targets.

References

1978 ships Ships built in France Iran–Iraq War naval ships of Iran Missile boats of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Ships built at Shahid Tamjidi shipyard Ships of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Ships built in Iran Missile boats of Iran {{Iran-mil-ship-stub

History

Hijack

Refit

See also

References