US sailors depart Iran
US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter credits the Kerry-Zarif channel and US-Iran diplomatic engagement for the swift release of US sailors.
WASHINGTON — US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter welcomed the release of 10 US sailors Jan. 13, and credited the diplomatic engagement of Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for the swift resolution of the incident that occurred when two small US Navy patrol boats sailing from Kuwait to Bahrain apparently drifted into Iranian waters near Farsi Island.
“I am pleased that 10 US Navy sailors have departed Iran and are now back in US hands,” Carter said in a Jan. 13 statement. “I want to personally thank Secretary of State John Kerry for his diplomatic engagement with Iran to secure our sailors' swift return. Around the world, the US Navy routinely provides assistance to foreign sailors in distress, and we appreciate the timely way in which this situation was resolved.”
Kerry, noting he is a former US Navy sailor himself, expressed gratitude to Iranian officials for helping to resolve the issue quickly and peacefully.
“I want to express my gratitude to Iranian authorities for their cooperation in swiftly resolving this matter,” Kerry said in a statement Jan. 13. “That this issue was resolved peacefully and efficiently is a testament to the critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country safe, secure and strong.”
