New Delhi, Nov. 4 -- Iran on Tuesday thanked the Indian government and armed forces for rescuing all 20 crew members of an Iranian vessel seized by Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea and said the operation reflects the spirit of solidarity and cooperation between the two countries. The Indian Navy coordinated the operation conducted 3,000 km from Mumbai to rescue the crew of the fishing vessel Azini, which was taken over by the pirates on October 29. There were no casualties or injuries during the operation, which defence minister Rajnath Singh described as "meticulously coordinated". The Iranian embassy in New Delhi expressed its "sincere gratitude" to the Indian government, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. "This humanitarian operation stands as a testament to the spirit of friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Iran and India." "The Indian Navy tasked a mission-deployed warship to intervene, supported by a maritime reconnaissance aircraft," the navy said. "...these platforms located the vessel after persistent surveillance, tracked its movements and employed calibrated non-kinetic measures to contain its movement and prevent its escape."...