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US says Iran promised swift release of sailors

An incident in which US sailors were held by Iran in the Gulf waters comes at a particularly sensitive moment, as implementation day for last year's nuclear deal is expected within days.
Helicopters fly from the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) during a resupply mission with the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in this U.S. Navy handout picture taken in the Gulf of Oman April 13, 2015 and released April 20, 2015. The U.S. Navy sent the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and its escort cruiser, USS Normandy, from the Gulf into the Arabian Sea on Sunday.  Army Colonel Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, denied reports the ships were on a mission to intercept Iranian arms

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.

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