Iran says warships to cross Suez Canal
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An unidentified Iranian Navy official said Thursday that two Iranian warships are to cross the Suez Canal, the local satellite Press TV said.
According to the official, the vessels are on their way to the Suez Canal.
He said that the Iranian officials were in contact with officials in Cairo to secure the Iranian vessels' passage, adding that Egyptian authorities believed there was nothing wrong with the passage, according to the report.
The Israel Navy remained on high alert Thursday as two Iranian warships were set to cross the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea on their way to Syria.
Egyptian officials at the canal board announced Thursday that the Iranian vessels did not enter the canal with the daily northbound ship convoy.
An unnamed canal official later said that the vessels withdrew their application but provided no reason.
A senior official of the canal board Wednesday denied reports that Egyptian authorities approved an Iranian request to transit the Suez.
A Suez Canal authority official identified the Iranian vessels as Alvand and Kharg, a frigate armed with missiles and torpedoes and a supply ship that can haul up to 33 tons of materials, respectively.
