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Source: Cyprus detained Iran arms ship en route to Syria
By Barak Ravid , Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Hezbollah, Israel News, Iran 

Cypriot authorities on Thursday detained an Iranian arms ship en route to Syria, a European diplomatic source said.

The move apparently came after Israel and the United States requested that Cyprus stop the ship. It is carrying a large amount of weaponry, including artillery rounds and rockets that Israel believes are destined for either Hezbollah or Hamas.

The vessel left the Persian Gulf a few weeks ago and reached about 60 miles from Cyprus' port city of limassol on Wednesday.
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Since the ship was flying Cyprus' flag, the Cypriot authorities were the only ones authorized to confiscate its cargo.

According to the diplomat, Cypriot customs officials had contacted the Iranian boat and demanded that it sail to limassol to be checked.

The U.S. navy had earlier detained the ship in the Red Sea, but was forced to release it Tuesday when it became apparent that there was no legal basis for holding it.

At a press conference in Washington, Admiral Mike Mullen, who heads the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said although American naval personnel boarded the ship and found the weapons, they had no legal authority to impound the arms. He also said he believes the ship is heading for Syria.

Mullen suggested that more stringent resolutions by the UN Security Council would be required, stating clearly that Iran is violating standards against arms smuggling.

Peres asks Putin to help stop delivery of Iran rockets to Gaza

Also Thursday, President Shimon Peres asked Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to help stop the delivery of long-range rockets from Iran to Gaza.

During Israel's 22-day offensive against Hamas in Gaza, Palestinian militants fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, some of which hit key population centers such as the cities of Be'er Sheva and Ashdod.

The two leaders met at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Their discussion was mostly on the situation in the Gaza Strip and Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Putin told Peres that Russia has been monitoring with concern the recent developments in Gaza.

But he said Russia was optimistic regarding the cease-fire declared in Gaza after Israel's campaign, and fully understood the difficulties Israel is contending with.

Peres, for his part, told Putin that Israel has learnt from Russia there are things a state must do when it is left with no other option.


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