TEHRAN - IRANIAN state television says the Israeli Navy has intercepted an Iranian ship loaded with medicine, food and clothing destined for Gaza and forced the vessel to head toward an Egyptian port.

Ahmad Navabi, head of the humanitarian aid group sponsoring the ship, said on television on Wednesday that the Israel Navy approached the cargo ship just 30 kilometres off the coast of Gaza, and ordered it to return.

The ship, Shahed, left the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas two weeks ago. Mr Navabi says his group may have to try to send the humanitarian aid to Gaza through the Rafah crossing at the Egyptian border. -- AP