Page 3 - atoday
P. 3
U.S. NEWS A3
Thursday 14 January 2016
US Navy sailors released unharmed by Iran in less than a day
ADAM SCHRECK woman were detained This picture released by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016, shows
ALI AKBAR DAREINI Tuesday after at least one detained American Navy sailors in an undisclosed location in Iran. Less than a day after 10 U.S.
Associated Press of their boats suffered me- Navy sailors were detained in Iran when their boats drifted into Iranian waters, they and their ves-
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- chanical problems off of sels were back safely Wednesday with the American fleet.
ates (AP) — It turned out to Farsi Island, an outpost in
be the international crisis the middle of the Persian (Sepahnews via AP)
that wasn’t. Gulf that has been used as
Less than a day after 10 U.S. a base for Revolutionary showing them sitting on The woman had her hair released more video and
Navy sailors were detained Guard speedboats since the floor of a room. They covered by a brown cloth. photos of the Americans
in Iran when their boats the 1980s. The Americans’ looked mostly bored or The pictures also showed apparently surrendering on
drifted into Iranian waters, small Riverine boats were annoyed, although one what appeared to be their their knees, their hands be-
they and their vessels were sailing between Kuwait appeared to be smiling. two boats. State TV later hind their head.q
back safely Wednesday and Bahrain on a train-
with the American fleet. ing mission when theU.S.
U.S. Secretary of State John lost contact. The sailors
Kerry tapped the personal left the island at 0843 GMT
relationship he has formed (3:43 a.m. EST) Wednes-
with Iranian Foreign Minis- day aboard their boats,
ter Mohammed Javad Zarif the Navy said. They were
in the three years of nego- picked up by Navy aircraft,
tiations over Iran’s nuclear and other sailors took con-
program, speaking with trol of the vessels for the
him at least five times by return voyage to Bahrain,
telephone. Kerry credited where the U.S. 5th Fleet is
the quick resolution to the based.
“critical role diplomacy Cmdr. Kevin Stephens, a
plays in keeping our coun- 5th Fleet spokesman, said
try secure and strong.” the priority now would be
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash determining “how exactly
Carter thanked Kerry af- these sailors found them-
ter the sailors’ release and selves in Iran.”
couched the incident in He declined to say where
humanitarian terms, not- they were going or give
ing that “the U.S. Navy rou- details on their identities,
tinely provides assistance but a senior defense official
to foreign sailors in distress.” said they were heading to
For Tehran, the Americans’ a U.S. military facility in Qa-
swift release was a way to tar. The official, who was
neutralize a potential new not authorized to discuss
flashpoint days before it the matter publicly, said
was expected to meet the they are being debriefed
terms of last summer’s nu- and getting medical ex-
clear deal, which will give ams but were not harmed.
Iran significant relief from In Washington, a defense
painful economic sanc- official said the Navy has
tions. ruled out engine or propul-
It is likely that Supreme sion failure as the reason
Leader Ayatollah Ali the boats entered Iranian
Khamenei, who has the waters. Navigation prob-
final say on all matters of lems, due either to human
state, would have had to or mechanical failure,
approve the release, given could not be ruled out,
the immense political sensi- said the official, who was
tivities. not authorized to discuss
But the rapid resolution also details of the incident and
was a victory for moderate so spoke on condition of
President Hassan Rouhani, anonymity. The sailors were
who has promoted greater part of Riverine Squadron
openness with the outside 1, based in San Diego, U.S.
world despite strident op- officials said. When the U.S.
position from deeply en- lost contact with the boats,
trenched hard-liners at ships attached to the USS
home. Harry S Truman aircraft car-
“Rouhani’s policy of inter- rier strike group began a
action is working,” said Ira- search, as did aircraft from
nian political analyst Saeed the Truman. The officials
Leilaz. “Iran and the U.S. also spoke on condition of
have gone a long way in anonymity because they
reducing tensions but still were not authorized to dis-
have a long way to go in cuss the incident publicly.
improving their contacts. It The Revolutionary Guard
was a big step forward.” released images of the U.S.
The nine men and one sailors before their release,
