Iran Seizes 2 US Navy Boats, Crewmen For "Illegally Entering Iranian Waters"

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/12/2016 18:10 -0500

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

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Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:32 | 7036893 BlindMonkey

At some point fundamentals will make a difference. The US and Iran getting into a scrum would certainly qualify as fundamentals with respect to oil prices.

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:12 | 7036689 rejected

Just out here minding our own business and here come the crazed Iranians....

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 18:00 | 7037407 PersonalRespons...

I'll add the /sarc for you. Well done.

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:12 | 7036691 whats_that_flashing

i cant even

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 18:09 | 7037450 PersonalRespons...

We've got it. Just relax. You don't always have to.

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:13 | 7036693 arbwhore

$20 oil here we come.

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 18:05 | 7037432 PersonalRespons...

I keep thinking $20 oil would be the time to buy, to go all in. And then I think of the new battery technologies, the new efficiencies, the new everything moving so fast that... as usual, no way to tell. Just when you think you have a sure thing, poof

Wed, 01/13/2016 - 00:22 | 7038915 techpriest

When electric cars are going for less than the average US household's annual income, let me know.

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:13 | 7036697 taketheredpill

Bwah Ha Ha Ha!!!!

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:14 | 7036703 SoDamnMad

Don't let this get out before Obos speak saying all is well and everybody loves us.

(Ronald Reg would have told them have them home before dinner or else 300 cruise missiles will be launched)

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:20 | 7036789 Consuelo

Gawd-Damned right the Gipper woulda showed them... Just like he did after that hotel in Beirut was collapsed and that 747 passenger plane off the coast of the old Soviet Union got shot down. Yep, he done showed them alright...

Then again, Billy Jeff launched '300' cruise missiles (at least) in Bosnia - in fact, we were running out of them he was launching them so fast - other than launching on Monica's dress that is...

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:36 | 7036936 DownWithYogaPants

Dresses need painted too!

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 17:44 | 7037336 Boomberg

You got that right! Gipper would have them sailors back overnight, after trading them for a nuclear warhead!

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:14 | 7036708 youngman

we are the new French ARMY..white flags first

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:14 | 7036713 E.F. Mutton

I did two tours of the PG while in the Navy. This reeks. What kind of small craft? Why were they operating out of range of the battle group and/or escort? Tonkin II in the works?

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:19 | 7036773 Sanity Bear

my first thought was what kind of SPECOPS mischief they were engaged in

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:26 | 7036833 Wulfkind

Well.....this is the NEW navy. Probably a couple of the Village People recruits in a rubber dinghy. Or maybe they were just dressed in rubber playing with each other's dinghy and they didn't hear the Persians coming up on them yelling "ALOHA SNACKBAR" !

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:32 | 7036889 Allen_H

Thats enough, I can't laugh anymore.

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:40 | 7036972 ZeroIntelligence

Gotta get em back, BRIAN WILLIAMS might be on board!!!

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 17:03 | 7037125 Rancho Texican

https://twitter.com/LyinBrianNBC/status/687025313797115904

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:43 | 7036990 More Ammo

Yep, be nice if a couple of nuke were hid in there, like Trojan Horse...

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 21:31 | 7038349 BarkingCat

>>>My first thought was what kind of SPECOPS mischief they were engaged in<<<

Very likely. However they sent in the Affirmative Action SEALs to execute plans created by Affirmative Action officers.

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:26 | 7036828 August

The forces of Global Goodness were practicing a little seize-and-sabotage drill, just in case any Iranian coastal oil facilities might be in need of any seizing or sabotaging. Just probing.

No harm, no foul.

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:25 | 7036832 Bangin7GramRocks

Meddling mofo's! I was just standing there minding my own business with my cock in the glory hole when this fucking guy starts sucking! Can you fucking believe that! Bullshit!

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:30 | 7036878 just the tip

exactly. koowait/baarain are on the west side of the PG. what are the shia doing on the west side of the PG? unless maybe that is NOT where they were operating. surely not.

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 18:49 | 7037633 JuliaS