A picture taken on February 21, 2009 shows Iranian warship Kharg in the Gulf. Egypt's Suez Canal Authority on February 17, 2011 said it has received no request to allow Iranian warships passage to the Mediterranean, after Israel said two vessels were on their way. – AFP Photo

CAIRO: Egypt gave permission on Friday for Iranian warships to transit the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean, state media reported, after Israel described move as a “provocation.”

Egypt agreed to allow two Iranian warships to transit the Suez Canal, the official MENA news agency reported.

Canal officials say it would be the first time Iranian warships have transited the passage since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

MENA reported that the request for the ship to pass said they were not carrying weapons or nuclear and chemical materials.

A foreign ministry official said earlier on Friday that the Iranian request was passed on to the defence ministry, which has to approve the passage of any warship through the canal.

His comments came a day after an official in the canal and a shipping agent said the request had been cancelled, on the prompting of the Egyptian government.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has said that any attempt by Iranian warships to sail so close to the Jewish state's waters now would be a dangerous “provocation” that would demand a response.

Asked by AFP in Jerusalem to comment on the latest development, Israeli Foreign Ministry recalled Lieberman's comments on Wednesday.

“We have nothing to add to the minister's statement,” Palmor said Friday. “It's still valid.”