Iran sends warships into Mediterranean Sea (by Deborah Levine)

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Iranian warships entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal Saturday for only the second time since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, but the destination or mission is unclear. Iranian Admiral Habibollah Sayari said the naval deployment to the Mediterranean would show "the might" of the Islamic republic to regional countries, and also convey Tehran's "message of peace and friendship," according to the Fars news agency. The move comes as tensions with Israel are heightened not only by concerns about Iran's nuclear program but also as the Jewish state accuses Tehran of recent anti-Israel bombings in other countries. An official of the Israeli foreign ministry said "we will closely follow the movement of the two ships to confirm that they do not approach the Israeli coast," according to AFP. Iran last sent ships through the Suez Canal a year ago, putting Israel's navy on alert. In recent years, Iran has moved ships into the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Oman to protect merchant ships from Somali pirates, reports said.