Iran's IRGC Says No Plans To Escort Gaza Ships

The deputy commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards says the elite corps has no plans to escort aid ships to Gaza.

General Hossein Salami said today reports that the guards naval forces were ready to accompany the ships were erroneous and that such a plan has not been on the agenda.

Iran plans to send two aid ships to the Gaza Strip via the Iranian Red Crescent.

The moves would further anger Israel which came under intense international pressure after a raid on a Turkish aid ship which tried to break the Gaza blockade.

The May 31 Israeli raid left nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists dead.

compiled from agency reports