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 US$100 million (S$153 million) worth of oil.
Last week, the Hong Kong-flagged Delight, with 25 crew and 36,000 tonnes 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.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi told a news conference that 'we have all options on the table' in dealing with the problem but did not elaborate.
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 fuelled by a growing Islamist insurgency onshore and the lure of multi-million-dollar ransoms.
Mr 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.
'These pirates ... they do seemingly as they please. This flies in the face of those who say that they rule the seas.' Qashqavi did not mention any country by name. Iran is an old foe of the United States and other Western countries.
'They think that all the world is their sphere of influence. They should accept responsibility for these events,' Mr Qashqavi said in comments translated by Iran's English-language Press TV. -- REUTERS