Egypt denies US reports of Iranian warships at Suez Canal

Egypt's Suez Canal Authority dismissed reports that it had prevented two Iranian warships from passing through the canal, saying no Iranian ships had tried to make the passage.

The White House had declared that Iran was planning to run two of its warships through Suez Canal.

Israel, on the other hand, described the alleged Iranian move as a provocation. Foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman said that the two ships were meant to cross the canal to the Mediterranean on their way to Syria.

The canal's shipping movement official, Ahmed el-Manakhly, told MENA that no Iranian ships crossed the canal on Thursday and Wednesday, adding that the canal's authority had not received any requests for passage by Iranian warships. He said that the authority requires warships to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Defense.