Two Iranian warships have passed through the Suez Canal and entered the Mediterranean Sea, Iranian mass media report.
"Two Iranian warships passed through Suez Canal (on Thursday), after receiving the corresponding permission from the Headquarters of the Egyptian Armed Forces," a source from the Canal’s administration reported on Saturday.
One destroyer and one vessel with provisions are probably moving towards the Syrian coast, the same source announces.
Iran and Syria agreed on cooperation and conducting naval exercises one year ago. Teheran has naval agreements with no other country in the region.
A year ago, on February 17, similarly, two Iranian warships passed through the strategic shipping lane. Israel called these actions a “provocation.”
The Military Command of Egypt, which has close connections with the US Defense Department, has de facto been ruling the country since last year (after the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak).
Using the Suez Canal, passing through the whole territory of Egypt, decreases the travelling time between the Middle East and Europe, allowing ships to avoid circumnavigating the whole of Africa.
