Israel Matzav

Surpise: Iranian cargo ship was carrying weapons to Gaza

I'm sure you'll all be shocked to hear that Cyprus has reported to the United Nations that the Iranian cargo ship that was intended to go to Gaza, and that is now sitting at port in Limassol, has 'cargo that is forbidden under UN resolutions' (i.e. weapons) on board.

A ship detained by Cyprus appears to be carrying banned weapon-related material from Iran prohibited under United Nations resolutions, a senior Cypriot source said on Saturday.

The source said that was the advice Cyprus received from a United Nations panel monitoring compliance of sanctions. The Mediterranean island had sought guidance from the body earlier in the week after submitting a list of findings from the vessel, detained in Cyprus from Jan. 29.

"They are saying that on the basis of evidence provided the shipment is a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions," the source, who requested anonymity, said.

The Cyprus-flagged "Monchegorsk" had been sailing from Iran to Syria when it was called in by Cyprus for checks.

The Cypriots don't know what to do with the weapons.

"Now it is really up to Cyprus and other United Nations members to decide what to do with the cargo because the sanctions committee does not prescribe remedies," the source said.

A western diplomatic source said U.S. navy inspections had found arms-related material including propellant and other casings for artillery and tank rounds, as well as shell casings.

The Cypriot source could not say precisely what was in the cargo.

The mistake here was not letting the Israelis deal with it. If Israel had seized the ship, we would have had all the weapons laid out on a dock in Eilat.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:21 PM