Smart move.
CAIRO — A senior Suez Canal official says two Iranian warships have withdrawn their application to transit the waterway following expressions of concern by Israel over the plans.
The official said no reason was given for Thursday’s decision to withdraw the application. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, also said it was not known if the vessels intended to transit the waterway at a later date.
The official identified the two vessels as Alvand, a frigate, and Kharq, a supply ship, and said they were en route to Syria. He said they were now in an area near the Saudi Red Sea port city of Jiddah.
Egypt’s official MENA news agency, however, quoted Ahmed al-Manakhly, a senior Suez Canal official, as denying that the waterway’s management had received any requests by Iranian warships to transit the canal.
Vessels intending to transit the Suez Canal, which links the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, must give the waterway’s authority at least 24-hour notice before entering the canal.Only ships that don’t meet safety requirements are banned from using the canal.
UPDATE: On second thought, maybe they are stupid enough to try and cross.
(JPost) — Iran plans to cross the Suez Canal, despite reports to the contrary, Press TV reported on Thursday.
The Iranian news station also said that “Egyptian authorities believed there was nothing wrong with the passage.”
Earlier on Thursday, a senior Suez Canal official said two Iranian warships had withdrawn their application to transit the waterway following expressions of concern by Israel over the plans.
The official identified the two vessels as Alvand, a frigate, and Kharq, a supply ship, and said they were en route to Syria. He said they were now in an area near the Saudi Red Sea port city of Jiddah.
Egypt’s official MENA news agency, however, quoted Ahmed al-Manakhly, a senior Suez Canal official, as denying that the waterway’s management had received any requests by Iranian warships to transit the canal.