Iran rewards IRGC leaders who captured US sailors

Five Iranian commanders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who were behind the detention of 10 US sailors who trespassed into Iranian waters near Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf, received Fath medals from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Jan. 31.

The Jan. 12 detention of the US sailors had the potential to become another international crisis between Iran and United States, which have been steadily reducing tensions as a result of a landmark nuclear deal that was implemented last January. The IRGC released footage of the confrontation with American soldiers in their boats on their knees with their hands on their heads. The release of the video and pictures shocked and angered many Americans. The American sailors were released 16 hours after their capture. However, Iran has sought to depict the incident as a sign of strength of its forces in the Persian Gulf waters.