TEHRAN — Iran’s government on Saturday welcomed the US Navy’s rescue of 13 Iranian fishermen held by pirates, calling it a positive humanitarian gesture.

US officials announced Friday that the fishermen had been rescued by a US Navy destroyer on Thursday, more than 40 days after their boat was commandeered by suspected Somali pirates in the northern Arabian Sea.

The rescue came just days after Tehran warned the US to keep the same group of warships out of the Persian Gulf in a reflection of Iran’s fear that American warships could try to enforce an embargo against Iranian oil exports.

“The rescue of Iranian sailors by American forces is considered a humanitarian gesture and we welcome this behaviour,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as saying by state TV’s Al Alam Arabic channel.

Iran’s hardline Fars news agency had a different take, calling the rescue operation a Hollywood dramatisation of a routine event.

The Fars report noted that attacks by Somali pirates in the region are common and said that Iran’s navy has itself freed many mariners held by pirates in recent years without seeking to highly publicise it.

Amid escalating tension with Iran over its nuclear programme, the Obama administration revelled in delivering Friday’s announcement and highlighted the fact that the rescuing ships were the same ones Iran’s army chief had just said were no longer welcome in the Persian Gulf.

“Basically, rescuing trading and fishing boats from the hands of pirates in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden is considered a completely normal issue,” Fars said.

“A US helicopter filming the rescue operation from the first minute makes it look like a Hollywood drama with specific locations and actors. It shows the Americans tried to publicise it through the media and present the American warship as a saviour.”

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