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U.S. officials say they believe that Iranian warships' planned transit of the Suez Canal is still uncertain, that neither the Egyptians nor Iranians have made final decisions, despite early reports that the plan had been scrapped.
On Wednesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigor Lieberman made some news when he spoke about the transit, calling it a “provocation.”
The Iranians said they planned to send two warships through the canal and in fact Iranian TV reported Thursday that the ships were en route.
The Suez Canal Authority runs the canal and must grant permission for warships to pass through the canal. Only warships require permission.
The authority said Wednesday that the Iranians had made and rescinded a request, which the Iranians subsequently denied.
U.S. officials say that the transit is "still in play" and will be "for a couple of days," that it's uncertain the Egyptians will grant permission and uncertain that the Iranians will ask for it.
"All parties are still debating this," said the official.
As for whether the transit and movement into the Mediterranean is a "provocation" as the Israeli claim, a U.S. official said that in fact the operation does appear to be nothing more than a training mission.
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given that there is virtually a state of war since Iran has threatened to destroy Israel ..and has used its off shoots hamas and hezbollah to commit terrorist attacks on Israel..these boats are a clear escalation .but Iranian terrorism is an international issue with attacks on 6 continents so this is really an international problem, at the minimum several countries will be supporting Israel and will make their militaries available ..since Iran is a hitler type state they are never going to back down...perhaps best to confront them now..if they arrive at Syria ..Israel could set up a blockade to prevent them from leaving. a very serious warning to both countries...and if they bomb them. better in Syrian territory rather than in the Suez Canal but this is only one suggestion..among many other options.. one thing is clear Iran is showing its horrible beastly psychotic head .both with its own people and internationally..the world waited too long with Hitler ! they shouldn`t make the same mistake again!
Gee, you don't think Iran putting two warships in the Suez Canal during this very unique crisis in Egypt to be just a LITTLE suspicious? Is it just possible that Iran was behind Ghadafi's mercenaries? Am I wrong in thinking that two warships right on hand, willing to "help out" the ruling regime is merely a coincidence? Maybe they are just sending weapons to Syria.. ( Oh yay) or maybe just thumbing their nose at Israel. But wouldn't it be better to just..oh, say.."Help" Libya? And have that little annoying Mahmoud Ahmadinejad thumb his noses at both Israel AND the world? And in particular, President Obama?
iranian ships were heading to syria, not libya. you morons wouldn't know the difference now would you.
I visited Iran for 30 days last month. Spoke with quite some people (mostly educated people in the towns; talking with mainstream people speaking English or other foreign languages is a major problem:not educated in schools). I was asked frequently to tell "the west" that they are NOT terrorists. In order to make them hate the West, their (borring) media tell them we consider Iranians as dangerous. In fact they are lovely, kind people wanting freedom and peace with other countries. They consider themselves as prisoners in their own country. So they are more the victims of their government's system and not actors.They also feel we let them down during the green revolution in 2009.