Iran Navy ships returning through Suez Canal

From PressTV:

Two Iranian Navy ships that made their first ever journey through the Suez Canal following Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution are currently sailing through the canal before heading toward the Red Sea.

The vessels will pass through the Red Sea later on Thursday and enter the Gulf of Aden, the Public Relations of Iran's Army said on March 3.

The Iranian warships are due to arrive in zone one of the country's Naval Forces later.

On Wednesday, a canal official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters, “Tomorrow (Thursday), the Iranian ships will cross the canal with the convoy starting in the north from the Mediterranean.”

The official added that the two Iranian naval ships will go through the canal on Thursday morning.

On February 22, Iranian vessels, Khark and Alvand, crossed the Suez Canal, a strategic international shipping route in Egypt en route to Syria after Cairo had "agreed to allow the two Iranian warships to transit the Suez Canal."

The 1,500-ton patrol frigate Alvand is armed with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles, while the larger 33,000-ton supply vessel Khark has 250 crewmembers and can carry three helicopters.

It was a potentially risky move but the Iranians appear to have pulled it off. It sets a precedent for Iran Navy activity, as well. Expect the Iran Navy to assume more confidence on the high seas, in partnering with its allies, and-- within the scope of its relatively limited resources-- combatting piracy. The sailors of Alvand and Kharg deserve campaign ribbons for this groundbreaking tour.

Iran Navy Ships in the Mediterranean Sea

IRINS Alvand Crossing the Suez Near Ismailia, Egypt

After a long expectation and amid speculations, the Iran Navy frigate Alvand (FFG-71) and its supply ship Kharg (AORH-431) today entered the Mediterranean Sea. This is the first time since the 1979 revolution that Iranian warships have crossed the Suez into the Mediterranean.

IRINS Kharg

Video:

Photos: The Financial Times Limited

Iran Ships Journey to Syria Delayed

Notwithstanding reports from Iran’s state-owned broadcasting system, the AFP is now reporting that the passage of the two Iranian warships through the Suez into the Mediterranean has been delayed by two days and it is now scheduled for Wednesday. The IRIB and its Arabic affiliate the Alalam had earlier reported that the ships had actually crossed into the Mediterranean.

"The shipping agent handling the two Iranian warships has told the canal administration to push back their passage by two days," a Suez official told AFP on Sunday [AFP, 20 February].

The ships, the frigate Alvand and its replenishment ship Kharg, are expected to anchor in the Syrian port of Latakia after passing the Suez.

Iran Navy Ships Enter Mediterranean

IRIS Alvand

The Iranian frigate Alvand and its replenishment ship Kharg crossed the Suez and reached the Mediterranean today. Iran’s state-owned broadcasting network (IRIB) said the two vessels are heading toward a Syrian port. The Suez crossing is the first for Iranian Navy ships since the 1979 revolution.

The ships, which are not carrying any unconventional cargo, are expected to anchor in the Syrian port of Latakia.

The new Egyptian government approved the passage through the Suez honoring its treaty that obliges it to allow free passage through the waterway. Israel has called the crossing “provocative.”

The Alvand is equipped with anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. The Kharg carries 250 sailors and three helicopters.

Photo: IRIS Alvand File Photo. Majid Jamshidi / Fars News Agency

Iran Ships Passing Suez

CNN is reporting from Cairo that the Iranian frigate IRINS Alvand and its replenishment ship IRINS Kharg are transiting the Suez Canal to enter the Mediterranean Sea. Israel has called the planned move “provocative.” The vessels are on a yearlong training mission.

Plans for two IRIN ships transiting Suez cancelled- Updated

Update: PressTV is reporting the transiting of the two IRIN ships is back on.

It was announced today the plans have been cancelled for the frigate IRIS Alvand and its replenishment ship IRIS Kharg to transit the Suez Canal and enter the Mediterranean Sea.

Israel had been calling the planned move "a provocation" and from a naval perspective it made little sense sending a lone frigate into potentially harm's way given Israel's past record of attacking vessels in international waters, such as the attack on the USS Liberty in 1967 and the attack on the MV Mavi Marmara in 2010.

Iran Navy warships headed toward Mediterranean Sea

According to Reuters:

Two Iranian war ships planned to sail through the Suez canal en route to Syria on Wednesday, Israel's foreign minister said, describing the move as a "provocation" by Tehran.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency had reported on January 26 that Iranian navy cadets had been dispatched on a year-long training mission going via the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea and on through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Iran Navy flotilla contains IRIS Alvand (Alvand class frigate, hull no. 71) and IRIS Kharg (Kharg class replenishment ship, hull no. 431). File photos provided below. The two ships were last reported in Saudi Arabia on way to the Gulf of Aden, and now appear set to transit the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea.

Should this transit take place it will represent a symbolic assertion of Iranian power projection alongside what it considers "occupied Palestine."

(click photos to enlarge)

IRIS Alvand

IRIS Kharg

File photos: Majid Jamshidi and Hossein Zohrevand at FARS News Agency