"We have been in contact with Iran and have received assurances that the crew and the vessels will be returned promptly," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told the Associated Press, adding that the ships were travelling between Kuwait and Bahrain when the Pentagon lost contact.
Senior military officials speaking to NBC News say that up to ten US sailors were on a training mission when one of the vessels — small riverines — began experiencing mechanical difficulties and drifted into Iranian waters. The sailors have been detained by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces on Farsi Island.
The White House says it is working to resolve the situation, and wants all US personnel returned to normal deployment. Deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters at the White House that the administration is hopeful that the situation will be resolved.
US Secretary of State John Kerry is in communication with Iranian counterparts, and one senior official speaking to NBC says that the Tehran believes the incident to be an accident and that the Americans will be released in international waters within hours.
DETAILS TO FOLLOW
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Le Pentagone a annoncé mardi avoir momentanément perdu contact avec deux de ses navires opérant dans le Golfe...
ReplyDeleteDeux navires de l'US Navy ont été arraisonnés par l'Iran dans le Golfe alors qu'ils faisaient route de Koweït à Bahreïn, rapportent les médias se référant au Pentagone.
Selon le Pentagone, Téhéran a assuré Washington que les deux navires et leurs membres d'équipage seraient remis prochainement remis aux autorités américaines.
Détails à suivre.
http://fr.sputniknews.com/international/20160112/1020890309/Usa-golfe-persique-navires-iran.html#ixzz3x4LlU24G
The Pentagon said it had briefly lost contact with two small Navy boats in the Arabian Gulf but has received assurances from Iran that the crew and vessels will be returned safely and promptly...
ReplyDeleteA Pentagon spokesman told The Associated Press that the boats were moving between Kuwait and Bahrain when the U.S. lost contact with them.
“We have been in contact with Iran and have received assurances that the crew and the vessels will be returned promptly,” said the spokesman.
The White House meanwhile said it is working to resolve the situation with the seized navy boats, and wants the U.S. personnel to be returned to normal deployment.
A U.S. defense official quoted by Reuters said that the U.S. had received assurances that its sailors will promptly be allowed to continue their journey.
U.S. news channel Fox reported that the U.S. sailors had drifted into Iranian territorial waters.
The circumstances surrounding the seizure of the boats – and the current status of the two vessels and their crew – are still unclear.
alarabiya.net
US apologises for Iran naval incursion - Revolutionary Guards...
ReplyDeleteThe US has apologised to Iran after 10 American sailors were arrested for entering Iranian waters, the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards naval forces has said.
General Ali Fadavi accused those detained of "unprofessional" acts.
But he suggested the group, who are being held by the guards, could be released soon.
The incident comes at a sensitive time, as the US and Iran try to implement the deal on Iran's nuclear activities.
US Secretary of State John Kerry contacted Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif over the incident.
Giving his assessment of the talks, Gen Fadavi said "Mr Zarif had a firm stance, saying that they were in our territorial waters and should not have been, and saying that they [the US] should apologise".
"This has been done and it will not take long, and the naval force, according to its hierarchy, will act immediately upon the orders it receives," he added.
US officials have said the sailors - nine men and a woman - are likely to be released Wednesday. There has been no confirmation from Washington that Mr Kerry apologised........http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35299930
Iran asks U.S. to apologize for Navy ‘violation’...
ReplyDeleteIran's Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday that Tehran has asked the U.S. for an apology for "violating" Iran’s territorial waters, after 10 American sailors were arrested on Tuesday.
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."..........alarabiya.net