10 US sailors who were detained overnight in Iran have been released, it has been revealed.
The Naval personnel were taken into custody by Tehran when they accidentally strayed into Iran’s territorial waters after their vessel broke down.
The incident occurred just days before the Iran nuclear deal is due to be implemented. Republican opponents of the deal criticized the way the Obama administration handled the situation, stating that the US is showing weakness in the face of hostile actions.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Ali Fadavi announced on state TV that the sailors had been released into international waters after apologizing for their unintentional incursion. Vice-President Joe Biden, however, countered that there was “nothing to apologize for.”
“Iran is testing the boundaries of this administration’s resolve”, Republican Presidential hopeful Marco Rubio declared.
Secretary of State John Kerry took a different approach, stating, “This kind of issue was able to be peacefully resolved and officially resolved, and this is testament to the critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our nation safe, secure and strong.”
Have US-Iran relations passed a first test, or was this move by Iran deliberately provocative and dangerous in the midst of crucial negotiations?
Are the US flirting with a dangerous and hostile enemy, or does this latest incident show that the US and Iran can cooperate peacefully to resolve misdemeanors without escalation?
Share your opinion below.
