Iran Captures Two US Boats, Ten Sailors; US Expects Prompt Release

As the prospects for the implementation of the JCPOA and removal of sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program loom large, the main sides of the agreement are engaged in an apparently unwanted new scuffle.

Iran has reportedly seized two US riverine patrol boats after they entered the country’s waters on Tuesday afternoon. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) navy forces seized the boats near Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf. Early today, Sepah news, the IRGC’s official website, published a statement saying the crew, nine men and a woman, are all in full health and in an appropriate place as they were seized with Islamic conduct. According to the statement, American aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman was in the south east of Farsi Island at the time and near the place of the seizure. French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle was also patrolling in international waters in the north east of the island, the statement said.

The US says the boats had been moving between Kuwait and Bahrain for a training mission when captured near Farsi Island. US officials say the boats have drifted into Iran’s waters inadvertently and are blaming “mechanical issues in one or both of the small boats” for the entry into the Iranian territorial waters. The US Navy had lost contact with the two boats, which were on a trip from Kuwait to Bahrain, US officials said according to the Wall Street Journal.

Expecting a new wave of attacks from Republican critics, the Obama administration avoided calling the incident an act of hostility. “We do not see this as hostile intent, and every indication is they’re being treated well and will be released,” an unnamed senior administration official was quoted as saying by the WSJ.

The New York Times quoted administration officials saying that the military had lost contact with the boats before they strayed into Iranian territorial waters.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook also said in a statement the crew will be returned promptly. “We have been in contact with Iran and have received assurances that the crew and the vessels will be returned promptly,” said the spokesman.

US Secretary of State John Kerry also contacted Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif upon learning the matter. Kerry “personally engaged with Zarif on this issue to try to get to this outcome,” an official said. He later told CNN that he expected the sailors to be released “very soon”.

However early in the morning on Wednesday, an IRGC spokesman told reporters the US navy sailors will be interrogated and their immediate release is based on speculations, refusing to confirm or deny such reports. IRGC sent necessary warnings to the boats before the seizure but they failed to obey, IRGC Commander Brigadier General Ramazan Sharif said.

“Inspectors checking the riverine patrol boats found that they were carrying light and medium weapons in addition to technical equipments,” Sharif added. He said in case interrogations show the mariners have entered Iran’s territory for intelligence or “irrelevant” operations, Iran will choose other measures in reaction.

IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi also told reporters that the marines did not resist capture. “The presence and access of the Americans in regional waters have not been harmless so far,” he told reporters. Battle cruisers did some unprofessional actions after the seizure but IRGC’s timely measure restored peace in the area, he added.