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Conflicting reports as Egypt denies barring Iran ships
[Al Arabiya] Iran was pushing Egypt on Thursday to allow two of its warships to pass through the Suez Canal, amid conflicting reports from Cairo about the Egyptian response and despite warnings from Israel.Iranian warships have not entered the Mediterranean through the canal since 1979, and Israel says any attempt to sail so close to its waters now would be a dangerous "provocation" that would demand a response. "Iranian officials were in contact with officials in Cairo to secure the Iranian vessels' passage," Iran's state-run Press TV said on its website, citing Iranian naval officials. The ships were due to pass the canal on Thursday, Israel Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman claimed, but in Egypt a senior Suez Canal Authority official insisted it had not received a request to allow the ships through. "We did not receive any request for the passage of Iranian warships," Ahmed al-Manakhly, head of the canal's operations room, told AFP, adding he had no idea if any such ships were nearing the canal. Posted by: Fred 2011-02-18 |
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