Iran on Monday did not rule out using force to free its cargo vessel which was last week hijacked by pirates off the Somalia coast, reported dpa.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said Monday that Iran would rather continue negotiations with the pirates.
He said in a press briefing that Iran preferred the problem to be settled through an international cooperation, including maritime groups, the United Nations and countries involved in the case.
But he added that other options were also possible.
Iran's Deputy Transport Minister Ali Taheri made it more clear in telling the Tehran daily Etemad that if negotiations failed, Iran would use force to retrieve the vessel.
The hijacked vessel was flying a Hong Kong flag and was operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines when it was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden.