Iran releases detained US sailors

ran released 10 US sailors on Wednesday after holding them overnight, bringing a swift end to an incident that rattled nerves days ahead of the ­expected ­implementation of a landmark nuclear accord between Tehran and world powers. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had freed the sailors after determining they had entered Iranian territorial waters by mistake. The sailors had been detained aboard two US Navy patrol boats in the Gulf on Tuesday. "Our technical investigations showed the two US Navy boats entered Iranian territorial waters inadvertently," the IRGC said in a statement carried by state TV. "They were released in international waters after they apologized." IRGC Rear Admiral Ali ­Fadavi had said earlier that the two US Navy boats entered ­Iranian territorial waters due to a broken navigation system. Confirming the sailors' safe release, the Pentagon said there were no indications the sailors were harmed while in custody. The Pentagon's carefully worded statement did not explain how the sailors and their two riverine command boats ended up in Iran, saying only that "the Navy will investigate the circumstances that led to the sailors' presence in Iran." The sailors were later taken ashore by US Navy aircraft, while others took charge of the boats and headed toward Bahrain, their original destination. US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said he was pleased the sailors had been freed and ­appreciated "the timely way in which this situation was ­resolved." He added, "I want to personally thank Secretary of State John Kerry for his diplomatic engagement with Iran to secure our sailors' swift return." Kerry thanked Iran for its cooperation in the release of the sailors, adding, "That this issue was resolved peacefully and efficiently is a testament to the critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country safe, ­secure and strong." The incident raised tensions between Iran and the US, which - along with other world powers - reached a deal last year under which Iran will curb its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Some conservatives in both countries, enemies since Iran's 1979 revolution, have criticized the deal, which is due to be implemented in the coming days. Iranian armed forces chief Major General Hassan Firouzabadi said the incident should demonstrate Iranian strength to "troublemakers" in the US Congress, which has sought to put pressure on Iran after the signing of the nuclear deal. At a presidential campaign rally in the US, Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, who accuses President Barack Obama of being weak on ­foreign policy, described the incident as "an indication of where the hell we're going."