“Six vessels were boarded for investigation in recent days for illegally entering Iranian territorial waters,” Yadollah Sharafi, the head of the Abadan naval base, was quoted as saying by Fars.
“Twelve Iraqi fishermen were detained and brought to justice. Following investigations, three were released, but nine others are still detained,” he added.
Sharafi said Iranian forces would not allow “any violation of Iranian territorial waters.”
“The security established in the waters of the Aravand-Roud is unprecedented in recent years thanks to the efforts of naval forces charged with protecting the borders,” he said, using the Iranian name for the Shatt al-Arab.
Border incidents between Iran and Iraq have become scarce since the overthrow of now-executed dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003, but the two sides are yet to sign a peace accord after their 1980-1988 war.
They also still have not defined the demarcation of their common border in several contested areas, including along the Shatt al-Arab, a key waterway leading to the Gulf.
