Iranian state television today released video of one of the American sailors detained Tuesday apologizing following an incursion by two U.S. Navy boats into Iranian waters – a video that a U.S. military official said was “clearly” staged.
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The latest developments following the release of 10 U.S. Navy sailors detained by Iran after entering its territorial waters (All times local).
Biden was asked about an official apology from the USA government, of course, which is not the same thing as a sailor making a remark about an innocent mistake.
Contrary to initial reports, USA officials are now ruling out any mechanical fault aboard the sailors’ two small patrol boats, which were apprehended by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards while en route from Kuwait to Bahrain. The sailors were picked up by Navy aircrafts and other sailors took control of their boats for the return to Bahrain, the Associated Press reported.
Other images released in the Iranian media purported to show the American personnel being held all together in a room furnished with carpets and cushions.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said the sailors were released Wednesday after it was determined that their entry was not intentional.
IRGC Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi explained that the sailors had entered Iranian waters due to a broken navigation system.
Mr Kerry spent hours negotiating the nuclear agreement past year with Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister.
Zarif said on Twitter that he was “happy to see dialogue and respect, not threats and impetuousness, swiftly resolved the sailors episode”.
The tense scene shows the sailors, 9 men and 1 woman, with their hands behind their heads.
He says that if elected, he plans to reverse the “ridiculous” nuclear deal with Iran.
Kerry thanked Iranian officials for their cooperation and quick response.
“The statement said the Americans had pledged not to repeat the mistake, adding, “…the arrested American Marines were released into worldwide waters under IRGC Navy vessels’ watch”.
The announcement is welcome news to many who were concerned the incident would further sully relations between Tehran and the United States, just days before the implementation of a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and several world powers, including the U.S.
The officials were not authorized to discuss the sensitive incident publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity. Iran held them for 13 days, with the captives saying they were kept in cold, stone cells, blindfolded and fearing execution, and coerced into falsely saying they had entered Iranian waters.
The White House would be prohibited from taking them off the list unless it assures Congress they have not “facilitated a significant transaction” for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, a foreign terrorist organization, or anyone sanctioned in connection with Iran’s weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, according to the legislation.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said he appreciated “the timely way in which this situation was resolved”.
Iranian state broadcaster Irib News has published pictures of the sailors apparently being detained. It has also challenged foreign cargo ships operating in the Gulf, opening fire on at least two in April and May.
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The legislation targets more than 50 individuals and entities included in an attachment to the nuclear deal that also are on Treasury’s “Specially Designated Nationals” list, which freezes any assets they may have in the US and generally prohibits anyone in the USA from doing business with them. The US boats were intercepted at sea and the nine men and one woman on board taken into custody on the island.
