Iranian Warships off Suez as israel sabre rattles with military

These Iranian ships are off Suez as a demonstration of force by Iran,
notice how Iran has not sent any of it's Submarines to accompany the
Alvand and Khark. This is being done at a time when israel is expanding
it's navy, as the news below shows. Bear in mind that Air Independent
Propulsion was developed by Admiral Donitz, which he shared with america
at nuremberg during his trial, and as such the israelis can demand those
subs from Germany. Bear in mind with the riots going on in countries
throughout the region the chance of conflict is real, in any form.
Peter Khan Zendran


Egypt: Iran asks for warships to pass Suez Canal
By HAMZA HENDAWI Associated Press © 2011 The Associated Press
Feb. 17, 2011, 12:37PM



CAIRO — Two Iranian naval vessels have submitted a request to transit
the Suez Canal, Egypt's Foreign Ministry said Thursday. Israel has
expressed concerns over the plans, labeling them a "provocation."

Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said Egyptian authorities have received
the request to grant the vessels passage, while a Suez Canal official
said the Defense Ministry would process the application.

In Tehran, Iran's official English-language Press TV cited an Iranian
naval official saying the two warships are to pass through the canal.
The official said Tehran was in contact with Egypt about the ships.

Earlier, a canal official had said the Iranians had withdrawn a request
to transit the waterway, without giving an explanation for the
application's withdrawal. The official spoke on condition of anonymity
because he was not authorized to brief the media.

Ahmed al-Manakhly, a senior Suez Canal official, said international
agreements regulate the traffic through the canal. He said that only in
the case of war with Egypt may vessels be denied transit through the
waterway.

Al-Manakhly noted that Iran and Egypt are not at war, and said the final
decision on whether to grant the vessels' passage lies with the Defense
Ministry.

He said he will not allow any warships to transit the canal without
approval from the Defense Ministry.

The Suez Canal official identified the two vessels as the Alvand, a
frigate, and the Kharq, a supply ship, and said they were en route to
Syria. He said they were now in an area near Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port
of Jiddah.

Spokesmen for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Foreign
Ministry refused to comment.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Wednesday that Iran was
about to send two naval vessels through the Suez Canal for the first
time in years, calling it a "provocation."

Israel considers Iran an existential threat because of its disputed
nuclear program, ballistic missile development, support for militants in
the region and its threats to destroy Israel. While Israel has pressed
for international sanctions to stop Iran from developing nuclear
weapons, it has not taken the possibility of a military strike off the
table.

On Wednesday, U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley confirmed the
presence of the two Iranian ships in the area of the canal but would not
say whether that was considered provocative.

"There are two ships in the Red Sea," he said, "What their intention is,
what their destination is, I can't say."

Vessels intending to transit the canal, which links the Red Sea and the
Mediterranean, must give the waterway's authority at least 24-hour
notice before entering the canal.

Only ships that don't meet safety requirements are banned from using the
canal.

In the case of naval vessels, clearance from the Egyptian defense and
foreign ministries is required in advance, but is rarely withheld.



http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jdw/jdw091001_1_n.shtml
Non-Subscriber Extract
Israel seeks sixth Dolphin in light of Iranian 'threat'


By Alon Ben-David

01 October 2009

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As the threat of Iran obtaining nuclear capabilities looms, Israel is
seeking to build a sixth Dolphin-class (Type 800) attack submarine,
believed to be part of the country's nuclear second-strike capability.

With three Dolphin-class submarines in service and two under
construction by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel and Thyssen
Nordseewerke in Emden, the Israel Navy (IN) has initiated discussions
with the German government on building a sixth boat.

Under the 2006 contract, Israel is funding two thirds of the cost of
building Dolphins four and five, while the German government will fund
the remaining third of the project, which is estimated to cost a total
of EUR1 billion (USD1.46 billion).

The contract does include an option for building a sixth boat, although
it is not yet clear how Israel will finance it as the IN is already
struggling to receive funding to build two multimission corvettes.

"The need for a sixth submarine is recognised; now we need to find the
funding," a senior IN source told Jane's .
167 of 435 words
Copyright © IHS (Global) Limited, 2009
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