Iran denies Cyprus-docked ship was bringing weapons to Hamas

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman on Wednesday denied reports that a ship detained off Cyprus was carrying Iranian weapons destined for the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said that Cypriot authorities have inquired about the ship's cargo, but insisted that accusations of weapons on board werebaseless.

Cypriot Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou said Tuesday that the ship has breached a United Nations ban on Iranian arms exportsm,.

Cyprus inspected the Monchegorsk twice after it arrived Jan. 29. The U.S. military stopped the ship last month in the Red Sea and said it found artillery shells and other arms on board. But it could not legally detain the ship.