‘Did Ashton ask her Iranian hosts about shipment of weapons for terrorist organizations?’

The Europe Israel Press Association

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged European Union’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who is currently on a visit in Tehran, to ask her Iranian hosts about the shipment of weapons, including long-range missiles, that Israel said it caught earlier this week in a cargo vessel en route from Iran to terrorist organizations in Gaza.

At the beginning of his weekly cabinet meeting on 9 March, Netanyahu declared: “I call this to the attention of Catherine Ashton, who is now visiting Tehran. I would like to ask her if she asked her Iranian hosts about this shipment of weapons for terrorist organizations, and if not, why not?”

He added: “Nobody has the right to ignore the true and murderous actions of the regime in Tehran. I think that it would be proper for the international community to refer to Iran’s true policy, not its propaganda.”

He said that the interception of the ship carrying the weapons serves to “expose Iran’s real face.”The Iranian weapons ship reached Israel last night. The operation to seize the ship had two goals: preventing the delivery of deadly weapons to terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, which would have directly endangered Israel’s citizens, and exposing the true face of Iran, which was behind this weapons shipment,” Netanyahu said, adding that: “Iran completely denies its involvement; it is lying in the most brazen manner." He said that Israel “will present evidence of this tomorrow and later”.

Catherine Ashton is in Tehran to further negotiations with Iran about its nuclear programme.

On the evening of 9 March, the Israeli army completed the unloading and inspection of the weapons containers uncovered onboard the Klos-C. This concluded 'Operation Full Disclosure', aimed at preventing the smuggling of advanced weaponry from Iran to terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip.

A combined task force from various units unloaded and inspected the containers.The task force consisted of various IDF units, including the Israel Navy, the Combat Engineering Corps and the Ordnance Corps.

Weaponry Found Onboard Klos-C:
- 40 rockets (type M-302), up-to the range of 160 kilometres
- 180 mortar shells
- Approximately 400,000 7.62 calibre rounds.

The Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz addressed declared: “Our efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons and the supply of critical components with strategic influence over the region is not over, and our struggle does not end by arriving safely at our home port. We will sort through the equipment and continue our day to day efforts. There are many other missions ahead of us.”

“The task we carried out was not a simple one. It was meticulously orchestrated by the IDF and particularly the Navy over a long period of time. It required each and every one of you to perform at your best while spending a significant amount of time at sea, and the product of this hard work is laid in front of you,” he added.

“Each one of these rockets poses a threat to the safety of the citizens of Israel. Each bullet and each rocket that was discovered had an Israeli address.”