Iranian state television is reporting that all 10 US sailors detained by Iran after entering its territorial waters have been released.
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State Department spokesman John Kirby said Iran’s treatment of the USA sailors does not fall under the Geneva Convention because “we’re not at war with Iran”.
“We will find out more what combination of factors led to that navigational error, but they were clearly out of the position that they meant to be in”, Carter said.
Iranian and USA officials said a mechanical problem apparently caused the vessels to enter Iranian territory.
DUBAI – Iran released 10 United States sailors on Wednesday after holding them overnight, bringing a swift end to an incident that had rattled nerves days ahead of the expected implementation of a nuclear accord between Tehran and world powers. “Whether or not there are singular pieces of equipment missing, we’ll determine that once we’ve completed the inventory”, he said.
Iranian TV ran video of one of the sailors apologising for the intrusion into Iranian waters. The Iranians did not interfere, the defence official said. He said Kerry was in the middle of a meeting Tuesday with Defense Secretary Ash Carter and the Filipino ministers of defense and foreign affairs when he was alerted.
On Wednesday, John F. Kerry has communicated with Iranian authorities for at least five times.
Ten U.S. Navy sailors who were traveling from Kuwait to Bahrain yesterday when contact was lost with their pair of small craft are back in U.S. hands.
Politicians who are against dealing with Iran accused the administration of hastily assessing that the sailors had been treated well. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the sailors had now been set free. Mr Kerry credited the quick resolution to the “critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country secure and strong”.
Iran released footage Wednesday showing an American sailor apologizing for unintentionally crossing into Iranian waters along with nine others.
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The U.S. Navy has initial statements from the sailors but is now conducting a full debrief, so additional information may come to light, the official said.
