The Navy’s top officer is expected to brief reporters June 30 on the results of the investigation into how 10 U.S. sailors accidentally navigated into Iranian waters and detained this year.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson will discuss the investigation’s findings, as well as the way forward and any decisions on punishments for sailors that have been decided by next week, according to a Navy official.
In January, Iran detained 10 U.S. sailors overnight after they accidentally drove their two riverine boats into Iranian waters while crossing the Persian Gulf. An initial investigation found that the incident was due to engine trouble and navigational errors.
Iran later released videos of the sailors crying and apologizing while they were detained.
The Navy is considering punishments for several officers as a result of the incident, Foreign Policy reported.
The Navy declined on Thursday to provide any information on how many sailors could face punishment for the incident.
“The investigation is complete, and is being referred to appropriate commands for adjudication,” Cmdr. Mike Kafka, a Navy spokesman, said in a statement.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., had harsh words for the Navy and the administration.
“The real punishment [for the Navy] is the American people knowing that the Navy is ill prepared and unable to operate in a wartime environment, in one of the most dangerous areas of the world, in this administration,” Hunter said in a statement. “The Navy embarrassed itself, and that’s punishment enough. Maybe they’ll take the Iranian threat more seriously, regardless of who’s president.”
This month, lawmakers on Capitol Hill introduced a bill that would require U.S. sanctions against Iran if the incident is found to have violated either the Geneva Conventions or the international law of innocent passage.
“The scenes of American sailors being taken captive and hauled back to Iranian soil against their will were deeply troubling and Iran’s actions posed a threat not just to Americans in uniform, but to the stability of the entire region,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said of the bill that he introduced with Rep. Mike Pomepo. “The U.S. must send a clear message that the regime in Tehran will not be allowed to violate international law with impunity, and in the absence of leadership from the president, Congress will step up to hold them accountable.”
