Ankara announces seizure of cargo of Iranian plane bound for Syria

Turkey says last week it seized the cargo of an Iranian plane bound for Syria because the shipment violated UN sanctions. The Foreign Ministry didn't disclose the content of the seizure, but the UN sanctions against Iran ban the export of arms and prohibit nuclear enrichment. Turkish media said yesterday that the plane was carrying light weapons, including automatic rifles, rocket launchers and mortars. Turkey says the plane, which had landed in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir on Saturday for the search, returned to Iran Tuesday night without the seized cargo. The government says it routinely searches Iranian cargo planes flying over Turkey.