Egypt Suez Canal told Iran warship passing scrapped
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Egypt's Suez Canal was informed that plans by two Iranian naval vessels to cross through the strategic waterway heading north to the Mediterranean had been cancelled, an official said on Thursday.
The Suez Canal Authority was "informed today about the cancellation of two scheduled trips of two Iranian warships and no new date was set to cross the Suez as part of the southern convoy coming from the Red Sea," the canal official, who declined to be named, said.
The official, who identified the ships as the Alvand and Kharg, said the vessels were near the Saudi Red Sea port of Jeddah. Shipping experts had earlier said the ships were the Alvand frigate and Kharg supply ship.
Separately, Egypt's state news agency MENA reported: "The Suez Canal Authority categorically denied the truth of reports that Egypt denied passage to two Iranian warships through the canal."
No Iranian warships ships crossed the Suez Canal today. The Suez Canal does not have any Iranian warship on its waiting list for tomorrow Friday 
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman had said two Iranian warships planned to sail through the canal en route to Syria overnight on Wednesday, describing it as a "provocation".
The northbound ship convoy starts entering the canal from the Red Sea end at 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) daily, the Suez Canal website says. Ships head south from the Mediterranean at other times of the day.
"No Iranian warships ships crossed the Suez Canal today. The Suez Canal does not have any Iranian warship on its waiting list for tomorrow Friday," said Ahmed El Manakhly, a member of the canal's board who is responsible for shipping movement.
Another canal source said 26 ships, including one French warship, had entered in the morning northbound convoy but also said the convoy did not include Iranian warships.
Manakhly said warships of any country needed approval to pass from Egypt's defense and foreign ministries.
Egypt's Suez Canal Authority on Thursday said it has received no request to allow Iranian warships passage to the Mediterranean, after Israel said two vessels were on their way.
"We did not receive any request for the passage of Iranian warships," al-Manakhlytold AFP, adding he had no idea if any such ships were nearing the canal.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Israel was tracking them and had alerted "friendly nations in the region" accordingly.
Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper described the two Iranian ships as an MK-5 frigate and a supply vessel, which would not present a significant danger to the Jewish state.
Syria is one of Israel's neighboring adversaries. It has an alliance with Iran which has deepened along with Tehran's isolation from the West over its disputed nuclear program, which the Jewish state sees as an existential threat.
Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported on Jan. 26 that Iranian navy cadets were going on a year-long training mission into the Red Sea and through Suez to the Mediterranean.
The Suez Canal is a vital commercial and strategic waterway between Europe and the Middle East and Asia. It is also a major source of revenues for the Egyptian government.
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