Iran detains US sailors in Persian Gulf

By Euronews

Published on 13/01/2016 - 5:52 GMT+1

Comments

Share this article

Copied

Iran detained the crews of two US Navy boats in the Gulf on Tuesday after their vessels reportedly drifted into Iranian waters. Ten US sailors –

Iran detained the crews of two US Navy boats in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday after their vessels reportedly drifted into Iranian waters.

Ten US sailors – nine men and one woman – were taken into custody by Revolutionary Guards naval forces.

The US says the two boats were engaged in a training exercise when one or both developed mechanical problems while passing between Kuwait and Bahrain. The crews were later held on Iran’s Farsi Island. They are expected to be released “promptly” according to Iranian officials.

Relations between Iran and the US remain tense despite the clinching of a landmark nuclear deal which is due to be implemented soon.

However neither side appears to have been keen to let the boat incident escalate any further.

Go to accessibility shortcuts

Comments

Iran detains US sailors in Persian Gulf

Iran detained the crews of two US Navy boats in the Gulf on Tuesday after their vessels reportedly drifted into Iranian waters. Ten US sailors –

Read more

Iran seizes two US Navy boats said to have strayed into Iranian-claimed waters

Iran increased stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium before Israeli strikes, IAEA says

European nations start process to impose 'snapback' sanctions on Iran over nuclear programme