Iranian state media said the sailors were released into worldwide waters after they apologised. While the specifics of the incident are still unclear, the Pentagon says the Iranian government has pledged to return the sailors Wednesday, after negotiations between the two sides including a conversation between John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, who worked closely together during the nuclear negotiations.
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The detention of 10 U.S. Navy sailors taken into custody by Tehran after their two boats drifted into Iranian waters “is being resolved”, a leading Iranian official said, indicating they could be set free as early as Wednesday. “Following their apology, they have been released to worldwide waters in the Gulf”, it said.
Vice President Joe Biden, speaking later to “CBS This Morning”, denied that Americans made any apology.
A carefully worded statement did not explain how the sailors and their two riverine command boats ended up being detained by Iran, saying only that “the Navy will investigate the circumstances that led to the sailors’ presence in Iran”.
The sailors left the island at 0843 GMT (3:43 a.m. EST) Wednesday aboard their boats, the Navy said. The source also said the US has received high-level assurances that the sailors would be released promptly.
Haleh Esfandiari, the Iranian-American director of the Middle East program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, called the Americans’ release “a big victory for Rouhani and his team”.
“This kind of issue was able to be peacefully resolved and officially resolved, and that is testament to the critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country safe, secure, and strong”, he added.
Less than 24 hours after Iran’s detention and release of USA sailors, the House approved GOP-backed legislation that amplifies Republican distrust of Tehran and would give Congress greater oversight of the landmark nuclear agreement.
Zarif said on twitter that he was “happy to see dialogue and respect, not threats and impetuousness, swiftly resolved the sailors episode”.
Iranian state television has shown dramatic images of the moment when Revolution Guard forces captured 10 USA sailors in the Persian Gulf. There were also images of American passports being inspected. Kerry recently said the deal’s implementation was “days away”. “In its statement, the IRGC pointed out that its investigations show that the USA combat (vessels’) illegal entry into Iranian water was not the result of a purposeful act”.
“US naval force and their frigate showed an unprofessional behavior and had air and naval moves for 40 minutes in the area”, Fadavi said at one point.
US officials said that the incident happened near Farsi Island in the middle of the Gulf.
The sailors were nonetheless allowed to make contact with the U.S. military based on Iran’s “responsibilities and Islamic mercy” late on Tuesday, he said. The sailors were headed to a US military facility in Qatar.
“There are always situations (that) have an ability if not properly guided to get out of control”.
Attributing the boats’ incursion into Iranian waters to a navigation error marked a de-escalation in rhetoric.
Conservatives in both countries have opposed the nuclear deal, under which Iran will limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
The Guards operate land and naval units separate to the regular armed forces and stage frequent war games in the Gulf, which separates Iran from its regional rival Saudi Arabia and a US naval base in Bahrain.
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The U.S. military, however, released a video Saturday showing what is purportedly an Iranian military vessel firing several unguided rockets near, but not at, the USS Harry S. Truman, as well as near other warships and commercial craft.
