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.”