Iran on Wednesday, January 13, released 10 United States sailors it had detained in the Gulf, moving within hours to head off a potential crisis as it prepares for the lifting of sanctions.
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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. Indeed, the BBC notes the Iranian media had been uncharacteristically measured in its reporting of the American sailors. “Following their apology, they have been released to global waters in the Gulf”, state television quoted a Guards statement as saying.
The state-run IRNA had earlier reported the sailors were “healthy and will be treated well”.
Rear Adm. Ali Fadavi, a naval commander, told state television that Iran was sending a message with its handling of the incident that the IRGC was a capable military force and that the US military presence in the region “can’t secure their objectives, but causes insecurity”. The boats drifted into Iranian coastal waters in the vicinity of Farsi Island in the north Persian Gulf, apparently after one experienced mechanical problems and the other attempted to render aid.
A USA defense official said he expected US personnel would be “taken out to worldwide waters by the Iranian Coast Guard and turned over to a USA ship”, the official said.
Officials said a radio signal from one of the boats showed that they were on Farsi Island, setting off efforts to contact the Iranians.
“If, during the interrogation, we find out that they were on an intelligence gathering mission, we will treat them differently”, he said.
Secretary of State John Kerry expressed “gratitude to Iranian authorities for their cooperation in swiftly resolving this matter”, in a statement Wednesday.
He said the sailors were transferred to Farsi island, near where they had been seized.
A senior defense official said no distress call was made by the ships.
The incident comes at a sensitive time, as the USA and Iran try to implement the deal on Iran’s nuclear activities. Iran’s FARS news agency says their armed boats had been 3 nautical miles into Iranian territory when they were detained. Officials said they believe the USA had spoken to one of the crew, and all 10 were fine and uninjured. The sailors were reportedly escorted by Iranian boats to a rendezvous point in the Persian Gulf.
US officials had said on Tuesday that Tehran assured them the crew and vessels would be returned safely and promptly.
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President Barack Obama did not mention the situation in his annual State of the Union speech Tuesday, but he did mention a nuclear agreement reached a year ago between Tehran and Western powers, saying “the world has avoided another war”. The deal gives Iran significant relief from painful economic sanctions.
