Russia denies Arctic Sea was carrying arms destined for Iran

Foreign minister says reports that hijack ship held anti-aircraft system are 'absolute lie'

Russia today categorically denied media reports that the Arctic Sea ‑ the Russian cargo ship apparently hijacked by pirates ‑ had been carrying a secret cargo of anti-aircraft weapons destined for Iran.

Its foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, dismissed claims made in Russian and British newspapers that the ship was concealing a delivery of the S-300, Russia's most advanced anti-aircraft system. The arms had been loaded on to the ship in Russia's Baltic port of Kaliningrad, the reports said.

Lavrov called the claims an "absolute lie". He promised that Moscow would carry out its own investigation into the boat, which vanished after passing through the Channel on 28 July, apparently carrying a £1.1m cargo of Finnish timber.

"We will make it as transparent as possible so everyone can see that the rumours are false," he said. More