Captured U.S Navy Soldier's Released By Iranian Officials;
- Anthony F. Lemmo
- Jan 13, 2016
- 2 min read
On Wednesday, the Pentagon said: “Ten US navy sailors safely returned to US custody today, after departing Iran. There are no indications that the sailors were harmed during their brief detention.”
“The sailors departed Farsi Island at 8.43am [GMT], aboard the two Riverine Command boats that they had been operating when they lost contact with the US navy. They were later transferred ashore by US navy aircraft.”
In a statement released by U.S Secretary of State John Kerry; the US secretary of state, said he was pleased that the sailors had been returned.
“I also want to thank the Iranian authorities for their cooperation and quick response,” he told an audience at the National Defense University in Washington.
“These are always situations which, as everybody here knows, have the ability, if not properly guided, to get out of control. I’m appreciative for the quick and appropriate response of the Iranian authorities.”The sailors had been treated properly, an indication of improved diplomatic relations, Kerry said: “I think we can all imagine how a similar situation might have played out three or four years ago. In fact, it is clear that today this kind of issue was able to be peacefully resolved, and officially resolved, and that is a testament to the critical role that diplomacy plays in keeping the country safe, secure and strong.”
According to our sources at The Guardian The Iranian claim of an apology was ambiguous. It was not clear whether Kerry had officially apologised during phone communications with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, or whether the apology, if true, had come from the sailors themselves.Kerry thanked Iran for the swift resolution of the incident, tweeting:
Peaceful and efficient resolution of this issue is a testament to the critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country secure & strong.
8:36 AM - 13 Jan 2016
The US defence secretary, Ash Carter, said: “I am pleased that 10 US navy sailors have departed Iran and are now back in US hands. I want to personally thank secretary of state John Kerry for his diplomatic engagement with Iran to secure our sailors’ swift return. Around the world, the US navy routinely provides assistance to foreign sailors in distress, and we appreciate the timely way in which this situation was resolved.”
A direct conversation between the Iranian foreign minster and US counterpart would have been unthinkable just five years ago, and Carter’s statement is indicative of the improved diplomatic relations between Washington and Tehran.
The Revolutionary Guards’ navy chief and US officials saidmechanical trouble with one of the boats caused them to drift into Iranian territorial waters.
The 10 US detainees – nine men and one woman – were held overnight at an Iranian base on Farsi Island. Tasnim news, affiliated to the Guards, published a series of images showing the sailors in Iranian custody.
(Credited Reports Made By The Guardian and Tasnim News)
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