Iranian Navy Ships Transit the Suez Canal – First Since 1979

Posted on by February 22, 2011

For the first time since the Iranian revolution in 1979, two ships of the Iranian Navy are transiting the Suez Canal bound for the Mediterranean Sea.  The two ships, Alvand, a patrol frigate and Kharg, a supply ship, entered the canal at 5:45am, local time, Tuesday.  Last week the nuclear powered US aircraft carrier USS Enterprise transited the Suez Canal in the other direction.  The Enterprise was one of the  four ships shadowing the hijacked yacht Quest. The hijacking ended tragically with the deaths of the  four American sailors aboard.

Iranian navy ships enter Suez Canal

Thanks to Phil Leon for passing the news along.

Comments

Iranian Navy Ships Transit the Suez Canal – First Since 1979 — 7 Comments

  2. You are right that the Kharg traveled southbound through the canal in 1984. My statement was specifically “for the first time since the Iranian revolution in 1979, two ships of the Iranian Navy are transiting the Suez Canal bound for the Mediterranean Sea,” which is to say a northbound transit. This is the first time since 1979 that the Iranians are projecting naval force, albeit a very limited force, into the Med. That is what has the Israelis so upset. They prefer keeping the Iranians to their south.

  3. Well now yes and no!! When “Kharg” went through the Suez Canal she did so as a British Merchant Navy (Red Ensign) vessel, a former Royal Fleet Auxilary (RFA) vessel under the Blue Ensign. Once delivered to Iran she was commissioned in the Iranian Navy. So Old Salt Blog was actually correct in the original statement. It still leaves the Israelis seriously pissed-off!!
    Good Watch.

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