FNA - Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority Mohab Mamish dismissed Arab media reports claiming that a Ukrainian oil tanker carrying Iran's oil to Syria has been seized in the Canal.

"The Suez Canal Authority is bound to the freedom of international shipping in the Canal and permits all ships to cross the Canal except in special conditions," Mamish was quoted as saying by the Arabic-language Sad al-Balad news website on Wednesday.

"No ship can be prevented from crossing the Suez Canal; oil and weapons trade are both legitimate," he added.

Mamish said that Egypt will prevent passage of vessels if it receives an order by the UN to do so; or the ship carries illegal materials.

A report from Arab news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed claimed earlier this week that Egypt seized a Ukrainian oil tanker carrying Iranian crude while it was crossing the Suez Canal ten days ago.