The lone woman sailor was forced to cover her hair, and the head of Iran’s armed forces boasted that this “should be a lesson for troublemakers in the US Congress”, meaning those who want new sanctions for Tehran’s illegal ballistic-missile program. Some called for a review of the nuclear deal in light of Iran’s actions.
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Hours after the release of the sailors, who were detained when their vessels drifted into Iranian waters, Secretary of State John F. Kerry hailed the quick resolution as a dividend of the diplomatic channel with Iran opened by nuclear deal negotiations.
What’s more, The Federalist argues that that propaganda is part of an extensive project by the Iranians in the wake of the July 14 nuclear agreement, with this latest incident completing “the humiliation of Barack Obama”.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner acknowledged Wednesday a reporter’s “legitimate point” that the Obama administration’s self-hailed lines of communication with Iran had failed to free the American civilians held prisoner there.
“In fact, it is clear that today, this kind of issue was able to be peacefully resolved and efficiently resolved and that is a testament to the critical role that diplomacy plays in keeping our country safe and strong”, he said.
Although the terms of the accord have been public since last summer, the timing of the so-called implementation day seems especially awkward for the White House, which considers the disarmament deal a signature foreign policy achievement for President Obama and is eager to see it succeed.
There was precedent for such a standoff to further deteriorate. It was reported that the Americans found themselves in the Iranian territorial waters on account of a navigation equipment malfunction. To its allies in the Middle East, the photo demonstrates Iran’s strength – how many jihadist countries have had this many American service members under their power? – and it demonstrates American weakness.
Yet at the same time, the administration claimed that the encounter wasn’t hostile and the sailors were treated well.
Formal implementation of the nuclear deal is expected to begin within days, giving Iran billions of dollars in relief from economic sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear activities.
Some analysts argue that the US vacillation set the stage for a risky diplomatic flare-up several days later between Saudi Arabia, a longtime USA ally, and Iran, which remains deeply hostile to Washington. There were no indications the sailors were harmed while in Iranian custody, the Pentagon said. That is the final hurdle before the European Union, the US, and the United Nations remove the sanctions regime.
“Iran does not deserve the benefit of the doubt”.
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“I’m not aware that the prospect of the United States issuing a formal apology was ever discussed”. While the sailors were still being held, Iranian media recorded one sailor apologizing for entering Iranian waters and published a video of the crews being captured.
