Egypt: 2 Iranian naval vessels will transit Suez Canal

After conflicting reports, Suez Canal official says vessels due to arrive in Mediterranean on their way to Syria.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, ASSOCIATED PRESS
iran warship 311 (photo credit: Associated Press)
iran warship 311
(photo credit: Associated Press)
An Egyptian official from the Suez Canal Authority confirmed Sunday that the authority has decided to allow two Iranian naval vessels to transit the canal.
The official said that the vessels were due to arrive at the southern part of the canal later Sunday and will enter the Mediterranean on Monday morning.
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The Egyptian approval follows a weekend of mixed reports as to whether Egyptian authorities had approved the vessels' passage or not.
On Saturday, an Egyptian source said that approval had not been granted and the two ships neither reached the southern entrance of the canal, nor the waiting area.
State-run news agency MENA had said Friday that authorities in Egypt approved the request to let the navy ships cross, after Iranian diplomats offered assurances that the two ships won't have weapons or nuclear or chemical material.
The move had been widely expected and Iranian officials have insisted the request is in line with international regulations. They said the two vessels are headed to Syria for training.
Last week, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman first called attention to the Iranian intentions during a speech to the Conference of President of Major American Jewish Organizations, terming the move a “provocation” and calling on the world to “put the Iranians in their place.”


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