Iran detained the sailors aboard two U.S. Navy patrol boats in the Gulf on Tuesday in an incident that rattled nerves days ahead of the expected implementation of a landmark nuclear accord between Tehran and world powers.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday that Tehran had asked the U.S. for an apology for "violating" Iran’s territorial waters, after the American sailors were arrested.
An Iranian naval commander said the U.S. aircraft carrier with the sailors on board had acted "provocatively and unprofessionally" for 40 minutes by carrying out maneuvers in the Gulf. This is yet to be confirmed.
Separately, a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said the U.S. sailors were being interrogated, according to the Tasnim news agency.
Late on Tuesday, a U.S. defense official said plans were in place for Iran to return the sailors to the U.S. Navy vessel in international waters early on Wednesday.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest told CNN that "We have received assurances from the Iranians that our sailors are safe and that they will be allowed to continue their journey promptly."
News of the incident came hours before President Barack Obama made his final State of the Union address to the U.S. Congress prior to leaving office in January 2017.
Obama did not mention the crew's detention in the hour-long speech, but he did tout the nuclear deal with Tehran, saying "the world has avoided another war."
alarabiya.net
13/1/16
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Iran frees US sailors held in Gulf - state television...
ReplyDeleteIran's Revolutionary Guards have released 10 US sailors held for entering its territorial waters in the Gulf, state television reported.
They were detained on Tuesday after one of their two vessels broke down during a training mission, the US says.
A statement read on state media said the group was released into international waters after apologising.
It comes at a sensitive time, as the US and Iran try to implement the deal on Iran's nuclear activities.
A US official confirmed the sailors' release to the Reuters news agency.
The incursion was "unintentional", a statement from the Revolutionary Guards quoted by state media said.....BBC
Les dix marins américains arrêtés mardi dernier après s'être égarés dans les eaux territoriales iraniennes "ont été libérés", ont affirmé mercredi les Gardiens de la révolution dans un communiqué lu à la télévision d'Etat...
ReplyDelete"Après examen, il s'est avéré que leur entrée dans les eaux territoriales du pays n'était pas intentionnelle. Après avoir présenté des excuses, ils ont été libérés dans les eaux internationales", indique le communiqué.
Selon le texte, "les Etats-Unis se sont engagés à ne plus répéter de telles erreurs"....http://sptnkne.ws/azj2
US Secretary of State John Kerry has thanked Iran for ending what could have been a crisis involving the Islamic Republic holding 10 US sailors, who have now been freed...
ReplyDeleteKerry said in a statement on Wednesday: "That this issue was resolved peacefully and efficiently is a testament to the critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country safe, secure and strong."
Kerry has a close relationship with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif after the recent nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic and world powers.
The nine American men and one woman were held in an Iranian base on Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf after being detained nearby on Tuesday. The US military has said that mechanical trouble with one of the boats caused them to drift into Iranian territorial waters near the island, where they were picked up by Iran.
AP