The Suez Canal Authority was “informed today about the cancellation of two scheduled trips of two Iranian warships and no new date was set to cross the Suez”, an Egyptian canal official, who declined to be named, told Reuters news agency.

The official identified the ships as the Alvand (a frigate) and the Kharg (a supply vessel).

However, the official Egyptian news agency Mena released a report quoting the Suez Canal Authority as denying it had banned the passage of the ships.