Secretary of State John Kerry publicly thanked the Iranian government for the release of 10 U.S. Navy sailors, but shortly after the statement, the Iranian government released images of the capture as if to boast.
“I want to express my gratitude to Iranian authorities for their cooperation in swiftly resolving this matter,” Kerry said in a statement Wednesday.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps released the 10 U.S. Navy sailors Wednesday. Iran claimed the boats had drifted into Iranian waters.
“I’m very pleased that our Sailors have been safely returned to U.S. hands,” Kerry said in a statement. “As a former Sailor myself, I know the importance of naval presence around the world and the critical work being done by our Navy in the Gulf region. I’m proud of our young men and women in uniform and know how seriously they take their responsibilities to one another and to other mariners in distress.”
Kerry was a key player in working out the nuclear deal with the Iranians.
Here are the images shown on ABC News.