Pentagon: US sailors made ‘navigational error’ into Iranian waters

Credit: Rexburgstandardjournal.com ” After it became clear that the USA combat vessels’ illegal entry into the Islamic Republic of Iran’s waters was the result of an unintentional action and a mistake and after they extended an apology, the decision was made to release them.

The boats had drifted off course, but one was also suffering engine trouble, making it impossible for the Americans to rapidly back off and return to worldwide waters when they were approached by armed Iranian naval boats, the official said.

Iranian state TV has rerun a video clip of one of the detained us sailors apologizing for the intrusion into Iranian territorial waters. ‘They did not report this navigational error at the time. He said Tehran did not consider the U.S. Navy boats violating Iranian territorial waters as “innocent passage”. The State Department said Wednesday afternoon that USA officials were looking into the videos and would respond if the US determined that the sailors were treated inappropriately.

Upon their release, they left Farsi Island at 8:43 a.m. (GMT) aboard the two Riverine Command boats that they had been using prior to being detained.

Carter said he wanted to personally thank Secretary of State John Kerry for his “diplomatic engagement with Iran”.

The Pentagon said there were no indications the sailors were harmed while in Iranian custody.

Commenting on the apparent apology by the US, Defence Secretary Ash Carter said: “I think we need to give these guys the opportunity to tell us what was really going on and what the overall context (was)”.

Earnest said the handling of the situation with the sailors in Iran “underscores responsible, mature presidential leadership” on the part of Obama. Global Positioning System devices aboard the boats enabled the Navy to determine, after the fact, that they were in Iranian waters, but the Navy was not immediately sure whether the crew members were safe or had gone overboard.

The sailors spent Tuesday night in Iranian custody but were released promptly the next day along with their boats and cargo. “So that seems to be the original cause of this, according to the interviews that we have done”.

Meanwhile, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called the sailors’ temporary detention by Iran “outrageous” and argued that it shows “how little they respect [Obama] and how weak this president truly is”.