News

State-run radio said Iran is sending humanitarian ships, challenging Israel's embargo of the Hamas-ruled area. One ship left Sun. and another will depart by Fri., loaded with food, construction material and toys, the report said. Israel will likely intercept them, further raising Mideast tensions. Also, Iranian Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's hard-line spiritual mentor made a rare public call for producing the "special weapons" that are a monopoly of a few nations — a veiled reference to nuclear arms.