Yemeni Paper: Confiscated Ship in Yemen Carrying Weapons for Syrian Rebels

TEHRAN (FNA)- A Yemeni daily disclosed on Monday that the arms cargo confiscated off the country's coasts was headed for the rebel groups in Syria, dismissing the western media allegations that the weapons cargo was sent to the Yemeni rebels by Iran.

Yemen's Aloulaye daily quoted informed sources as saying that the shipment of weapons and explosives which was intercepted off Yemen's coasts was planned to be transferred to the Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebel group.

The report said the ship started its voyage from Ukraine and was en route to Syria when it entered Yemen's water.

The sources added on the condition of anonymity that the ship has entered Yemeni waters after receiving an official permission from a government department in Yemen and without the knowledge of the country's Defense Ministry which is the sole authority in charge of such permissions.

The report came after Saudi-led media in Yemen claimed on Saturday that the ship was an Iranian vessel trying to smuggle explosives and surface-to-air missiles to the country.

Earlier today, an informed source at the Iranian Foreign Ministry categorically denied the accusations as baseless and unfounded claims.

The Saudi-backed Yemeni media quoted the country's officials as saying on Saturday that the ship was an Iranian vessel trying to smuggle explosives and surface-to-air missiles to the country.

In reply, the Iranian Foreign Ministry source said "making such irresponsible claims is not in the interest of the two countries".

The source underlined that Iran attaches great importance to stability and security of the regional states, Yemen in particular.