Iran Navy Ships Pass Through Suez Canal

Steyr

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Iran-Iranian-Naval-Ships-Pass-Through-Suez-Canal-Into-To-Mediterranean-Risking-Wrath-Of-Israel/Article/201102415938222?lpos=World_News_Third_World_News_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15938222_Iran%3A_Iranian_Naval_Ships_Pass_Through_Suez_Canal_Into_To_Mediterranean%2C_Risking_Wrath_Of_Israel


4:24pm UK, Tuesday February 22, 2011

David Connolly, Sky News Online

Two Iranian naval ships have travelled through the strategic Suez Canal and arrived in the Mediterranean Sea.


The Iranian vessels are the first to pass through the canal since the Islamic Revolution in 1979



It is the first time since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution that Iran's military has used the waterway that links the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.

Israel said it takes a "grave view" of the passage of the Iranian warships so close to its territory.

"We are talking about an unprecedented Iranian military presence in the Mediterranean, and that is a provocation to which the international community must react firmly," Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor told the AFP news agency.

"Iran is trying to profit by extending its influence by dispatching two warships to cross the Suez Canal"-Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister

Iranian officials said the patrol frigate Alvand and support ship Kharg were heading to Syria for a training mission. Damascus is a close ally of Iran.

The Kharg has a crew of 250 and can carry up to three helicopters. The Alvand is armed with torpedos and anti-ship missiles.

The Suez Canal goes through Egypt and allows shipping to pass from the Middle East to Europe and vice versa without circumnavigating the southern tip of Africa.

The canal's northern tip, Port Said, is around 60 miles from Israel, but the ships' route to Syria would take them parallel to the Israeli coast.

Egypt's ruling military council, facing its first diplomatic headache since taking power after the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, has approved the vessels' passage through the canal.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Tehran of taking advantage of the instability in Egypt and elsewhere across the Middle East.

"Iran is trying to profit by extending its influence by dispatching two warships to cross the Suez Canal," he said.

Egypt is an ally of the United States and has a peace treaty with Israel. Its relations with Iran have been strained since the Islamic Revolution.

An international convention regulating shipping says the canal must be open to every vessel of commerce or of war.

The Suez Canal is a vital global trading route and major source of revenues for the Egyptian authorities.

Teangalad

Did'nt that happen a couple of days ago ?? or heve there been more passiing through?

Jaafa

Its not really a big deal. They have every right to pass through the canal.

Tabnabs

Entered at 0345 UT today and exited at 1330 UT.

It is a significant development as it rattles the Israeli's cage and makes the US Navy sit up and pay attention.

Both ships are British built, a Vosper Mark 5 class frigate and a supply vessel.

Steyr

Jaafa wrote: »

Its not really a big deal. They have every right to pass through the canal.

It is, I expect the Israeli's will start some fly-over's of those vessels.

Manic Moran

Perhaps, but realistically, Egypt denying passage was legally pretty much a non-starter so the whole debate on whether or not they should have allowed it was daft.

NTM

tricky D

/shrug

Israel sent a few through last June and in July 09. So meh really.

Tabnabs

Their transition through Suez was always going to be a high profile passage. But their presence in the Mediterranean is the significant factor. Besides, there's more than one way into the Med

Manic Moran

tricky D wrote: »

/shrug

Israel sent a few through last June and in July 09. So meh really.

True, but the practical difference was that the Israeli ships were going from one Israeli port to another. Iran has no Mediterranean ports.

NTM

dlofnep

No biggie. They have the right to do so.

BrianD

Tabnabs wrote: »

Entered at 0345 UT today and exited at 1330 UT.

It is a significant development as it rattles the Israeli's cage and makes the US Navy sit up and pay attention.

Both ships are British built, a Vosper Mark 5 class frigate and a supply vessel.

Why? They've every right to use it. Plus it's hardly a significant military force. The Israelis would probably dispatch them in minutes if they had to.

I'm sure both the Israelis and Iranians will have great fun playing cat and mouse.

BrianD

Manic Moran wrote: »

True, but the practical difference was that the Israeli ships were going from one Israeli port to another. Iran has no Mediterranean ports.

NTM

Neither does the US Navy.

The French navy don't have any Irish Sea ports and they regularly visit Dublin.

Manic Moran

You miss my point. I'm not saying that Iran shouldn't be able to go on flag-showing visits to Syria or anywhere else they want to go to. I'm just pointing out that on the political scale, the tricky D's comparison with the Israeli movement isn't the same as that was an internal re-arrangement between domestic ports whilst the Iranian jaunt is primarily politically motivated. Not bad or evil, just different.

NTM

tricky D

While that is true, there is nevertheless a propaganda aspect to the Israeli movements. Point being that there's the element of pots and kettles with both parties sending messages.

E.g. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8150916.stm

BrianD

Well when the Brits and the Yanks sold them all this gear years ago they hardly expected it to be in storage.

It's the norm of navies to go sailing and visiting other ports.

Fratton Fred

To put this into perspective, this is a 40 year old frigate, about the same size as Le Eithne, albeit with a few surface to air and anti ship missiles.

This isn't going to scare anyone, especially Israel.

goldie fish

Fratton Fred wrote: »

To put this into perspective, this is a 40 year old frigate, about the same size as Le Eithne, albeit with a few surface to air and anti ship missiles.

This isn't going to scare anyone, especially Israel.

I'd be more concerned about it's support ship, and the anti ship missiles that have already struck Israeli warships it may be carrying.

Victor

While a modified Olwen, the Olwens themselves seem to have been water and fel tankers only, so I suspect no weapons cargo.

BrianD

goldie fish wrote: »

I'd be more concerned about it's support ship, and the anti ship missiles that have already struck Israeli warships it may be carrying.

But there is no intent by the Iranians to attack Israel and if they were they would need to send more than 2 ships.

BlaasForRafa

BrianD wrote: »

But there is no intent by the Iranians to attack Israel and if they were they would need to send more than 2 ships.

its just a saber rattling exercise. The iranians wouldn't want to lose face by having their ships sunk or captured by the Israelis.

Tabnabs

The shows over, they're out of the Med again

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/03/egypt-iran-ships-idUSNWEB310220110303