My Bad moment of the week
(Source) “The US has apologized to Iran after 10 American sailors were arrested for entering Iranian waters, the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards naval forces has said.
General Ali Fadavi accused those detained of “unprofessional” acts.
But he suggested the group, who are being held by the guards, could be released soon.
The incident comes at a sensitive time, as the U.S. and Iran try to implement the deal on Iran’s nuclear activities.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has contacted Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif over the incident.
Giving his assessment of the talks, Gen Fadavi said “Mr Zarif had a firm stance, saying that they were in our territorial waters and should not have been, and saying that they [the U.S.] should apologise”.
“This has been done and it will not take long, and the naval force, according to its hierarchy, will act immediately upon the orders it receives,” he added.
This naval incident comes at a delicate moment for both Washington and Tehran.
The process to begin lifting the sanctions imposed on Iran due to its nuclear activities is expected to get under way at the end of this week.
There are many conservatives and hardliners in both countries who would dearly love to sabotage the deal and consequently both governments may be eager – whatever the attendant rhetoric – to get this episode resolved as quickly as possible.
U.S. officials have said the sailors – nine men and a woman – are likely to be released on Wednesday. There has been no confirmation from Washington that Mr Kerry apologized.
One of the two U.S. riverine patrol boats developed mechanical problems while on a training mission between Bahrain and Kuwait, the US officials added.
The crew and vessels have been taken to Farsi Island, the site of an Iranian naval base.”
