Iran has released the 10 U.S. Navy sailors it apprehended on Tuesday, according to a U.S. Navy statement.
Iran says the two boats drifted into Iranian waters, after which they were picked up. The sailors were held on Farsi Island.
“There are no indications that the sailors were harmed during their brief detention,” the Navy said. “The Navy will investigate the circumstances that led to the sailors’ presence in Iran.”
The Navy said the sailors were allowed to depart on the riverine command boats they were operating when they lost contact with the military. The sailors were then transferred ashore by Navy aircraft while other sailors took charge of the boats and headed toward Bahrain, which had been the original destination.
Secretary of State John Kerry said he’s “very pleased” that the U.S. sailors were returned, and thanked Iran for doing so.
“I want to express my gratitude to Iranian authorities for their cooperation ‎in swiftly resolving this matter,” he said.
“That this issue was resolved peacefully and efficiently is a testament to the critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country safe, secure, and strong,” he added.
The event forced the Obama administration to scramble to reach Iran and try to contact the 10 sailors, just hours before President Obama was due to deliver his last State of the Union address. Obama didn’t mention the incident during his hour-long speech.
It prompted outrage from Republicans, who said it once again showed Iran cannot be trusted to implement the Iran nuclear agreement.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said Iran was purposefully “humiliating” Obama and the U.S. just as the Iran nuclear agreement is set to be implemented.
Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., said the event “endangers” the entire agreement, and demanded that the sailors be released immediately.
