Iran says could use force against pirates: report

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran could use force against pirates hijacking ships if necessary, a government official said in comments published on Monday, after an Iranian-chartered vessel was seized off the coast of Yemen last week.

Somali pirates have caused havoc in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes this year, hijacking dozens of ships including a Saudi Arabian supertanker loaded with $100 million worth of oil.

Last week, the Hong Kong-flagged Delight, with 25 crew and 36,000 metric tons of wheat, was seized on its way to Iran from Germany. It was chartered by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), the country's biggest shipping firm.

"Iran's view is that such issues should be confronted strongly," Deputy Transport Minister Ali Taheri was quoted as saying by the Ebtekar daily.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has the capability to confront pirates. If necessary we can use force," he said, suggesting the country had the right to do so under international law.

Asked if Iran would use military force against those hijacking its ships, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi told a news conference: "We will examine all the appropriate options and have them on the table but ... let's wait and see what the appropriate and effective option will be."

India's navy last week said one of its warships destroyed a pirate ship in the Gulf of Aden in a brief battle.

IRISL on Friday said the pirates had set demands for releasing the Delight but did not say what those were.

"We are in contact with the vessel and at the moment everybody (in the crew) is in good health and good condition," a company official said on Monday without giving more details.

Another IRISL ship, the bulk carrier Iran Deyanat, was hijacked by pirates in August and released in October. IRISL has declined comment when asked if a ransom was paid to free it.

The sharp increase in attacks this year off Somalia has been fueled by a growing Islamist insurgency onshore and the lure of multi-million-dollar ransoms.

Qashqavi called for an international solution, involving maritime groups and the United Nations as well as states with a maritime presence in the affected area.

"There have been serious plans proposed in this regard and that work must advance within the framework and under the supervision of the United Nations," Qashqavi said.

"We think that part of the responsibility (of bringing about security in the region) lies with countries who claim to have maritime supremacy over the world's high seas," he said.

Qashqavi did not mention any country by name. Iran is an old foe of the United States and other Western countries.

(Reporting by Parisa Hafezi, Hashem Kalantari and Fredrik Dahl; Writing by Fredrik Dahl; Editing by Janet Lawrence)