Iran Seizes 2 US Navy Boats, Crewmen For "Illegally Entering Iranian Waters"
Update: Iran plans to return the crewmen to a ship from the USS Truman carrier strike group on Wednesday.
JUST IN: Plans are in place for Iran to return U.S. sailors to U.S. Navy Wed. morning, gulf time, US defense official says - Reuters
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) January 13, 2016
JUST IN: #Iran to return detained #US sailors to a ship from USS Truman carrier strike group: US defence official
— The Straits Times (@STcom) January 13, 2016
So we suppose we can just call the sailors "State of the Union hostages". The rationale for waiting until tomorrow (i.e. until after Obama's speech): it's safer to carry out the exchange in daylight, according to an unnamed US official.
In short, the Ayatollah has just pulled off one epic publicity stunt.
* * *
Tensions were already running high between Tehran and Washington in the wake of Iran's move to test-fire a next generation surface-to-surface ballistic missile with the range to hit Israel.
And then the IRGC conducted a live-fire rocket test within 1,500 yards of a US aircraft carrier in the Strait of Hormuz.
Now, in a further escalation, Iran has reportedly seized two US Navy ships.
- 2 U.S. NAVY BOATS IN IRANIAN CUSTODY, PENTAGON SAYS: AP
- RHODES SAYS U.S. WORKING ON RETURN OF CREW
- RHODES SAYS U.S. WORKING TO RESOLV
But nobody panic, because Iran has promised to return the crew "promptly" and as CNN adds, according to Iran the sailors are safe:
.@PressSec: "We have received assurances from the Iranians that our sailors are safe" https://t.co/GV9hdWZy3P https://t.co/1ioOtqYVH4
— CNN (@CNN) January 12, 2016
That appears to contradict a statement from Fars which says the US has "repeated" calls for the crew's release.
AP writes that the Pentagon says it briefly lost contact with two small Navy craft in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday but has received assurances from Iran that the crew and vessels will be returned safely and promptly.
Pentagon says these photos show examples of the type of craft involved in Iran incident pic.twitter.com/47ClLilOZK
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) January 12, 2016
"Riverine command boats or RCBs, are actually Swedish CB-90s and are a type of fast attack craft," WaPo notes, adding that "in a number of pictures released by the U.S. Navy, the boats are outfitted with a number of light, medium and heavy weapons including .50 caliber heavy machine guns and GAU-19 miniguns."
"RCB’s can carry contingents of infantry and special operation forces and are often crewed by sailors in Riverine squadrons, known by some as River Rats," WaPo continues. "The riverine force came of age in the Vietnam War in what was then known as the Brown Water Navy. In the 1960s and early 1970s boats such as Patrol Boat, River (from ‘Apocalypse Now’ fame) and Swift Boats were the River Rats vessels of choice."
Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook tells The Associated Press that the boats were moving between Kuwait and Bahrain when the US lost contact with them.
Cook says, "We have been in contact with Iran and have received assurances that the crew and the vessels will be returned promptly."
The crews, which total 10 Navy sailors, are being held at Farsi Island, a highly restricted island between Bahrain and Kuwait, where Iran has a naval base. US officials are saying it is unclear how the crew members ended up in Iranian waters, though Secretary of State John Kerry has kept phone contact with Iranian officials in Tehran, urging for a release. A senior official told NBC News the Iranians understand a mistake was made and have agreed to a release to come in hours.
According to AP, an anonymous senior official says Kerry "personally engaged with” Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif to work out a solution almost immediately upon hearing of the development around 12:30 pm EST.
Josh Earnest, the White House spokesperson, said the sailors will be released "promptly" and " allowed to continue their journey."
The international incident comes on the day President Obama will give his final State of the Union speech of his tenure. Obama's political opponents are capitalizing on the timing, especially since the International Spectator, citing Iran Revolutionary Guard, reports that "seized US sailors will not be released tonight or before State of the Union address."
Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) told CNN, "senior members of Barack Obama's administration are apologizing for Iran seizing two US Navy vessels and holding 10 sailors hostage. The White House tonight is a hot bed of cold feet."
Presidential candidates Dr. Ben Carson and Jeb Bush have taken to Twitter to criticize Obama's reaction. Bush called for "no more bargaining" and an immediate return home for the sailors, whereas Carson took a shot at Obama's "preparing to talk about his so called 'accomplishments'" in reference to tonight's national address.
If our sailors aren’t coming home yet, they need to be now. No more bargaining. Obama’s humiliatingly weak Iran policy is exposed again.
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) January 12, 2016
BREAKING: While POTUS is preparing to talk about his so called "accomplishments", 10 of our American sailors are being held by #Iran.
— Dr. Ben Carson (@RealBenCarson) January 12, 2016
This marks the second time in as many weeks that the President's "soft" policy on Iran has come under fire. Following the abovementioned rocket incident GOP lawmakers called for fresh sanctions on Tehran in connection with two ballistic missile launches in October and November. The White House was apparently prepared to announce a new set of measures aimed at around a dozen individuals and companies but at the last minute, the administration backed out. Obama's cold feet came after President Rouhani ordered the defense ministry to accelerate the country's ballistic missile program in the event new sanctions were put in place.
Meanwhile, according to Iran's version of today's events, Fars News agency says US sailors picked up by Revolutionary Guard Corps, from hardline camp who are opposed to the nuclear deal. Fars adds that the sailors were detained for illegally and "intentionally" entering Iranian waters even though they knew the area well. Tehran also contends the US ships were having "technical difficulties."
Fars News says IRGC detained 10 US military personnel in 2 boats for illegally entering Iranian waters in Gulf https://t.co/daqeCflOrM
— Borzou Daragahi (@borzou) January 12, 2016
Fars says US sailors know area, carrying GPS, intentionally entered Iran's territorial waters
— Sobhan Hassanvand (@Hassanvand) January 12, 2016
Fars: Both US boats "illegally" entered 2 km into Iranian waters, and IRGC confirms this info on their GPS record. https://t.co/V266Fsx42h
— FDD's Iran Project (@FDD_Iran) January 12, 2016
Just in: Iran's Fars news agency says 10 US sailors held include one woman
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 12, 2016
#Iran Questions:
- Kuwait to Bahrain is 300 nautical miles. Why were US sailors traveling by small boats? Joy ride? https://t.co/xmRCY6Or36
— Tarek Fatah (@TarekFatah) January 13, 2016
And here is the full Fars statement, google translated:
According to defense Fars News Agency, Iranian Revolutionary Guards 10 US military with two boats illegally entered Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf had been detained.
According to the information received by the Fars news agency every American boat is equipped with 3 machine guns caliber 50 (one in front and two on the sides of the float).
The two vessels illegally entered and patrolled about 2 km deep inside Iranian waters, and the information recorded on their GPS device and is now in the hands of Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
The military said among the arrested were 9 men and one woman. They carried heavy weapons in their vessels.
US officials repeated calls for the release of prisoners will continue with Tehran.
So, they are prisoners, and unlike the White House tried to spin it, guests of honor?
Ironically, earlier we asked:
Is Iran going to wait until the end of the SOTU address before returning the 10 sailors?
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) January 12, 2016
We now have the answer:
BREAKING: Iranian Revolutionary Guards official says seized US sailors will not be released tonight or before State of the Union address.
— The Int'l Spectator (@intlspectator) January 12, 2016
(23 votes)
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Promptly, like how Gitmo is still holding innocent men fourteen-plus years later?
Just let those Iranian bastards try to beat this!
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/abu-ghraib.jpg
Send the seals in. No wait obama is president.....send in the clowns.
Just extend Operation Chest Thump and send a B52 to fly around.
I imagine this was a test to see what they might have. Sort of when a military aircraft gets too close to see what radar and communications systems are activated. So much for my Cliffy Clavin moment... Now for a beer.
Most of the world considers Obama a joke.
Deploy the hastag campaign!!!
Is there a difference in today's navy?
Well if they didn't park their country right next to our bases.... I mean, sheesh!
Turkey would have just sunk them.
Just got here, so someone already probably said this, but this was the Pentagon screwing up someting in Obama's plans for Iran and his State of The Union speech.
We captured some boats.
If you want our boats, you can keep our boats
Just another distraction from the State of the Union address tonight, like the Kardishians!
Yes the WW3 agenda rolls on......
http://beforeitsnews.com/conspiracy-theories/2015/12/as-events-spiral-ou...
The world indeed is suffering from a bad case of globalists MrNosey.
Your thoughts... is Putin "with" or "against" ?
Do not breath to hold waiting on reply from spambot.
Thanks... Just checking.
But.....but.....I thought we were all friends. I thought the Magic Negro patched things up with the Persians !
Average IQ in Persia is 85 so they are a good match with Dearl Leader Obamao
Higher than the US then.
85 IQ is the average for African Americans, 1 standard deviation (15 points) below American Whites.
https://iq-research.org/en/page/average-iq-by-country
WB7 needs a nobel prize...
That's awesome, I'm headed to Equatorial Guinea to outsmart some people.
if you're referring to these numbers: http://www.photius.com/rankings/national_iq_scores_country_ranks.html
I don't buy it. 100 is literally the definition of average IQ and you can't have the vast majority of countries below the definition of average.
"WWIII undreway."
Nope, those Iranians are far too constrained ...
probably write them up a ticket for boating like a cunt in their waters and send them on their way.
Pay attention. This was not an act of war. They did not shoot the trespassing boats - and they will almost undoubtedly return both the boats and the sailors. What Iran is seeking is not war, but respect for its territorial integrity. I also suspect that tall John Kerry will bow down and issue a statement that sounds like an apology to the Iranians - and an assertion of "freedom of the seas" to the proles.
This was likely a small test to see if Iran would do more than complain. If not then they would keep pushing the boundries.
If Iran is smart they will throughly search and document everything in the boat, download all info and if needed, keep any device they need more time to examine.
China - See how it's done?
Has Iran received the S300+ from Putin? NO! And now Putin will most likely delay further instead of putting the S300 on cargo planes and getting them to Iran stat.
WRONG.
Iran has the S-300, latest version:
http://www.ibtimes.com/russian-military-weapons-iran-s-300-missile-defen...
https://www.rt.com/news/323184-iran-s-300-delivery-underway/
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/russia-bolsters-irans-air-defe...
Might wanna do a web search next time before you make up your own "facts."
WRONG! Again Putin lovers.
Check you own sources and find reliable ones (RT is reliable, I agree).
The RT article is one day before the other article and indicates that delivery will soon start. Same old story we heard a year ago - that they would be there in two months. Then again about 3 months ago we again heard they would be delivered in 2 months (again). And then 11/2 months ago we were again told Putin promsed they would be delivery in just weeks (RT article, and yes Putin Said that but again failed to follow through). BUT they never were delivered, not after any of the PR stories.
IF they are delivered RT will report the entire system is there and in service.
Putin has cried wolf too many times that he will finally honor the 2007 Contract with Iran. Then he never does. Too many times. If Putin wanted to deliver he would simply drive them into cargo planes and fly them there in a couple days. Then he would have someone reliable like RT take photos of them in Iran. It simply has not happened.
Ron White was certainly right, in your case- you can't fix stupid:
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/russia-bolsters-irans-air-defe...
You need to read the articles and notice it was just promises and there has been no follow through.
Just like the RT article is say the process has begun. Well, that is what was said over a year ago, 3 months ago and lastly at the end of November. That it had started. Seems all they meant was that maybe the spare tires would be delivered because the actual systems never were.
11/2 years ago the Putin fan club was making the same claims. And here we are today, no delivery, more PR threats that Putin would finally follow through and then - nothing. Nothing.
If they are ever delivered it will be on RT showing the actual systems, complete, in Iran. Not there.
Remember when the Putin fan club kept claiming Assad had them in Syria. Took forever for them to admit they are not there (except for some under the control of Russia to protect their base).
One boat had mecahnical problems so both boats drifted 2KM into Iranian waters. One boat was fine, they had GPS. I guess they didn't have a fucking rope to pull the other fucking boat out of there! WTF!!!! I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. NBC reports this as news? What are they reporting,... that USA sailors are fucking idiots? It really is idiocracy. Look at that NBC guy so intense on what he is saying and doesn't know what the fuck he is saying. From a previous post:
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pentagon-2-u-s-navy-boats-held-iran-mi...
I have a cold, I'm sick, and this shit is so fucking stupid I just can't hold my cool. Wait, cool coming back. Deep breath. I think I heard the word Kerry but had stopped the video before it sank in, thank god.
EDIT: I had to listen again to make sure I heard it properly. Yup, only one boat had problems. You know what that means...
The narrative doesn't wash. 10 feet of rope is plenty for towing a boat of that size...
It is nothing to worry about. It is Israel just checking its counterparty alertness. Perhaps you know that Fashington is a proxy for Jews. The same way as Israel just a proxy for devil himself.
Only thing worse than WWIII, is WWIII with our JV POTUS running the show.
Bring the fleet and soldiers home.
We might need them here stateside before this all shakes out.
One of the boats ran aground after suffering engine problems. Rescued by Iranian Navy. Another non-story from ZH. Come on Tyler, what the fuck is going on with this site. It's getting worse than the Huff Post.
Sure it did.
Iran said :one of our sailors said he was a she, and "to call me caitlin."
off to the rape rooms no doubt with a smile on his er her face.
Iran wanted to make it into the state of the Union tonight in order to let the whole world know that Obama is still their little bitch. How's that treaty with Iran working you fucking con man.
duplicate.
nsa spying induced duplicate
Almost there. China has to show up to the fight.
WWDCD
What would Darth Cheney Do?
Anyone else remember the clip of the Israel lobbyist saying we need a event to start a war with Iran? Not saying I know whats going on yet, just made me think of the video.
See the clip here
I bet money that the Pentagon sent these US sailor in deliberately and new damn well what Iran would do. This is less of a PR win for Iran and entrely a PR win for the Anti Iranian contingent in the Pentagon, just in time for the SOTU.
This is a repeat of Reagan - Iran hostages deal during the elections of 1980!
Is that because you're ANXIOUS for a world war?
Lets say this was a classified spying operation and it didn't make it to the media, what then? Would it still be the gateway to a world war?
Europe is being invaded by millions of fighting age men from the middle east, but two tiny boats being intercepted is the beginning of a world war. How very imaginative. But ZH readers wouldn't have it any other way. They are so very exciteable.
It's over. Comments like this stir the sheeple. Save your breath.
Oil down right?
News released after trading.....