The German shipping firm Bockstiegel on Monday denied that its vessel was carrying Iranian weapons and sailed toward Syria, its first response concerning the issue.

"According to the description of the goods in our documents as well as their appearance, the firm has no indication that they are weapons, ammunition or heavy military equipment, as stated in the press," the company said in a statement.

The company was referring to a report by Der Spiegel news magazine that its freight vessel known as Atlantic Cruiser, which was leased to a Ukrainian firm White Whale Shipping, has loaded with Iranian weapons heading for Syria.

In the statement, the Emden-based German firm said that it had kept close constant with the Ukrainian firm, which insisted that its cargo as "pumps and the like" industrial components for thermal power plant.

According to the German company, the goods were loaded on the ship in Mumbai, India, bounding for Syria, Turkey and Montenegro. Some of the goods were unloaded at Djibouti and no new goods were transported on board there, it said.

"The shipping firm scrupulously respects extant regulations," the statement added, reaffirming its stance to abide by the EU-imposed arms embargo on Syria.

The German ship freight company said it had cooperated with the German government to further investigate this matter and check the freights on board at another port before it reaches Syria.

Both Iran and Syria are currently under arms embargo imposed by the Western countries.