Washington — US sailors aboard two small US naval vessels were held by Iran in Persian Gulf waters Jan. 12 after one of their boats experienced apparent mechanical trouble, but Iranian authorities have assured the United States that the sailors will be promptly released and allowed to continue their journey, the United States said.
The potentially provocative incident occurred as Iranian officials have been publicly signaling Iran is completing the final steps required in rolling back their nuclear program to launch implementation day of the Iran nuclear deal, possibly within the next week.