Russia is under no obligation to provide an explanation for a recent alleged delivery of arms to Syria, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday, Jan 18.

"We don't consider it necessary to explain or justify ourselves, as we are not violating any international agreements or any [UN] Security Council resolutions," Lavrov told an annual news conference, RIA Novosti reported.

“We are only dealing with Syria in those items not prohibited under international law,” he added.

Lavrov’s comments followed the arrival last week of a Russian-operated ship in Syria. An official in Cyprus, where the vessel was briefly held up, said the ship was carrying ammunition.

The United States later said it had raised the issue of the ship’s cargo with Moscow. U.S. envoy to the United Nations Susan Rice said on Tuesday that Washington had "very grave concerns about arms flows into Syria from any source."

Hurriyet Daily News Turkish portal reported Tuesday that the Russian ship confirmed that it unloaded “dangerous cargo” – believed to be munitions – in Syria.

“It was confirmed that four containers carrying 59,422 tons [of dangerous cargo], according to the stowage cargo plan of the ship, were unloaded in Tartus on Jan. 12, 2012,” a Turkish diplomatic source told the HDN.