The two U.S. Navy boats seized by Iran with 10 sailors on board were within three miles of Iran’s Farsi Island when the Iranians took them, according to a U.S. defense official directly familiar with the latest information about the incident.
Advertisement
The videos from Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, and the Guards’ Tasnim news agency, showed the USA sailors kneeling on deck – hands clasped together behind their heads – as Iranians in uniform searched the ship and lined up confiscated automatic weapons and belts of ammunition.
The ten sailors were held overnight on Iran’s Farsi Island and released Wednesday.
Kerry explained to Zarif that the sailors – crews in two US Navy patrol boats – had been on a routine transit mission between Kuwait and Bahrein and urged him to ensure that they were released quickly and unharmed.
Iran’s foreign minister called for the United States to apologize for the “encroachment” of American vessels into Iranian territorial waters, an Iranian navy official told state-run media.
Vice President Joe Biden, speaking later to “CBS This Morning”, denied that Americans made any apology.
Kerry said in his remarks today that us relationships with Iran, many developed during the nuclear talks, were important in getting the sailors back.
“Iran and the USA have gone a long way in reducing tensions but still have a long way to go in improving their contacts”.
When the incident was announced, thousands of Americans started debating about the relations among the USA and Iran.
Secretary of State John Kerry expressed gratitude to Iranian authorities stating “I am appreciative of the quick and appropriate response of Iranian authorities”.
Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported that the boats were “rescued” by Iranian navy sailors. But President Barack Obama and Kerry have said the nuclear deal was separate from other issues between the USA and Iran.
This is the unidentified “commander” who said sorry for entering their waters on national Iranian TV while being captured by troops.
Iran is expected to satisfy the terms of the nuclear deal in just days.
The initial reports of the incident also indicated a “failure to have sailors act in accordance with Code of Conduct if taken captive – a very bad day for us”, Harmer. Additional images released on Wednesday showed the sailors as they ate in a group.
The IRGC, the Islamic Republic’s praetorian guard, is highly suspicious of United States military activity near Iran’s borders and many senior officers suspect Washington of pursuing regime change in Tehran.
Riverine boats that apparently had mechanical trouble and drifted into Iranian waters.
Zarif reportedly told Kerry during the phone calls that the us should extend a formal apology for the incident before the sailors were released.
U.S. Central Command said of the apology video, “The video appears to be authentic but we can not speak to the conditions of the situation or what the crew was experiencing at the time”.
Advertisement
Sepahnews via APIn his daily press briefing on Wednesday, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the department was still determining the authenticity of the video.
