Iran rejects Israeli charges on sending weapons to Gaza

Mar 16, 2011, 9:09 GMT

Tehran - Iran rejected Israeli charges that a cargo ship intercepted in the Mediterranean was carrying weapons from Iran earmarked for Palestinian militants in Gaza, official news agency IRNA reported Wednesday.

Army Commander Ataollah Salehi told IRNA that the charges made by Israel were lies and hoped that like the former leaders of Egypt, 'also the Zionist regime (Israel) will soon collapse.'

On Tuesday, the Israeli military said that naval commandos had intercepted a German-owned cargo ship in the Mediterranean, allegedly carrying weapons destined for Palestinian militants in Gaza.

The Victoria, sailing under a Liberian flag, was headed to Alexandria in Egypt, after sailing from Lattakia Port in Syria via Mersin in Turkey, the Israeli military said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the arms were from Iran.

An army spokesman said there were 50 tons of arms, including surface-to-sea missiles that could pose a threat to Israeli ships. There were also instructions written in Persian, the spokesman said.

The Victoria, sailing under a Liberian flag, was headed to Alexandria in Egypt, after sailing from Lattakia Port in Syria via Mersin in Turkey, the Israeli military said.

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