2016 U.S.–Iran naval incident

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On January 12, 2016, two United States Navy riverine command boats (RCBs) cruising from Kuwait to Bahrain with a combined crew of nine men and one woman on board strayed into Iranian territorial waters{{cite news |author=Starr |first=Barbara |last2=Browne |first2=Ryan |date=15 January 2016 |title=Ash Carter: 'Navigational error' behind U.S. sailors ending up in Iran |publisher=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/14/politics/navy-boats-iran-waters/ |access-date=13 February 2016}} which extend three nautical miles around Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf.{{cite news |last=Lynch |first=Sarah N. |date=18 January 2016 |title=U.S. sailors captured by Iran were held at gunpoint: U.S. military |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran-boats-idUSKCN0UW1Q7}}{{cite news |last=Schreck |first=Adam |date=13 January 2016 |title=US Navy sailors released unharmed by Iran in less than a day |agency=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/714f0290e99c4835a5ee59299a5c5ef5}} Patrol craft of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy{{Cite web |last=Sisk |first=Richard |date=19 January 2016 |title=GPS Devices Taken from Captured US Naval Boats Working, Iran Says |url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/01/19/gps-devices-taken-from-captured-us-naval-boats-working-iran-says.html |access-date=2016-01-24 |website=Military.com}} seized the craft and detained the crew at a military base on Farsi Island.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

According to military sources, the two RCBs were on a routine transit from Kuwait to Bahrain, which serves as the home port for Task Force 56 under the Fifth Fleet. They left Kuwait at 12:23 p.m local time and were scheduled to refuel with the U.S. Coast Guard Island-class patrol cutter {{USCGC|Monomoy|WPB-1326|6}} at 5 p.m. During the transit one RCB developed an engine problem, and both boats stopped to solve the mechanical issue. During this time they drifted into Iranian waters. At 5:10 p.m. the boats were approached by the two small Iranian center-console craft followed by two more boats. There was a verbal exchange between the Iranian and U.S personnel and the officer commanding the RCBs allowed the Iranian sailors to come aboard and take control. The Iranian forces made the sailors kneel with their hands behind their heads. The RCBs reported their engine failure to Task Force 56, and all communications were terminated after the report. A U.S. search-and-rescue effort was launched leading to "robust bridge-to-bridge communications" with Iranian military vessels, wherein the Iranians informed U.S. Navy cruiser {{USS|Anzio|CG-68|6}} at 5:15 p.m that "the RCBs and their crew were in Iranian custody at Farsi Island and were safe and healthy."{{Cite web |last=Lyons |first=James |date=January 26, 2016 |title=Navy's Iran mishap boosts image of Obama diplomacy |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jan/26/james-lyons-navys-iran-mishap-boosts-image-of-obam/ |access-date=2016-02-25 |website=The Washington Times}} By the time a search-and-rescue effort got under way (it included sending a U.S. Navy and U.S Coast Guard vessel inside Iranian territorial waters over concern U.S. sailors could have been lost overboard), the sailors were already ashore.

John Kerry spoke with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at least five times by telephone.{{cite news|last1=Friedman|first1=Uri|title=The U.S.-Iran Conflict That Never Happened|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/01/iran-sailors-obama-republicans/424371/|access-date=26 January 2016|work=The Atlantic |language=en-US}} John Kerry stated that in his other phone calls about the situation he "made it crystal clear" how serious it was and that "it was imperative to get it resolved." The sailors had a brief verbal exchange with the Iranian military and were released unharmed along with all their equipment the next day on January 13 after 15 hours, and they departed the island at 08:43 GMT on their boats. They later were escorted by a U.S Coast Guard patrol cutter, while U.S. Navy overwatched and supported. The Pentagon oversaw the escort on high alert.

The IRGC stated that they released the sailors after their investigation concluded the "illegal entry into Iranian water was not the result of a purposeful act."{{cite news |author=Barbash |first=Fred |last2=Ryan |first2=Missy |last3=Gibbons-Neff |first3=Thomas |date=13 January 2016 |title=Iran releases captured U.S. Navy crew members |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/01/13/iran-sends-mixed-message-on-quick-release-of-u-s-navy-crews/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114212206/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/01/13/iran-sends-mixed-message-on-quick-release-of-u-s-navy-crews/ |archive-date=14 January 2016}}

At first it was suggested that a mechanical failure in at least one of the boats led them to the Iranian waters, then it was verified that both boats returned to base under their own power. However, American military officials could not explain how they had lost contact with both of the boats.

The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards naval forces claimed that the U.S. apologized to Iran for incident.{{cite news |last1= |title=US apologises for Iran naval incursion - Revolutionary Guards |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35299930 |access-date=25 January 2016}} However, the U.S. government has stated that no apology was made.{{cite news|title=U.S. military reveals missing items after sailors' Iran detention|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-military-reveals-missing-items-after-sailors-iran-detention/|access-date=28 January 2016|work=CBS News|date=18 January 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Brook|first1=Tom Vanden|last2=Michaels|first2=John|last3=Bacon|first3=John|title=U.S. denies apologizing to Iran over Navy sailor incident|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/01/13/us-sailors-remain-iranian-custody/78727580/|access-date=28 January 2016|work=USA Today|date=13 January 2016}}

According to the Fars News Agency on January 26, "the American ships were 'snooping' around in Iranian waters," on the basis of the sailors' GPS data collected by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Navy.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} On January 29 Fars News Agency stated "it was proved that the US marines had strayed into Iranian waters only due to the failure of their navigation devices and equipment."{{Cite web|title=Farsnews|url=http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941109000707|website=en.farsnews.com|access-date=2016-02-01|archive-date=2016-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131204634/http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941109000707|url-status=dead}}

U.S. Central Command stated, "A post-recovery inventory of the boats found that all weapons, ammunition and communication gear are accounted for minus two SIM cards that appear to have been removed from two handheld satellite phones."{{cite news |date=18 January 2016 |title=U.S. Central Command Statement on Events Surrounding Iranian Detainment of 10 U.S. Navy Sailors on Jan. 12-13, 2016 |url=http://www.centcom.mil/en/news/articles/u.s.-central-command-statement-on-events-surrounding-iranian-detainment-of |agency=U.S. Central Command |access-date=20 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126121318/http://www.centcom.mil/en/news/articles/u.s.-central-command-statement-on-events-surrounding-iranian-detainment-of |archive-date=26 January 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} The statement did not account for navigation equipment. A Navy command investigation continues and more details will be provided when it is completed.{{cite news|title=US Central Command statement on events surrounding Iranian detainment of 10 US Navy Sailors Jan. 12-13, 2016|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/186483/us-central-command-statement-events-surrounding-iranian-detainment-10-us-navy-sailors-jan-12-13-2016#.Vq6zRoRU7ww|access-date=31 January 2016|publisher=U.S. Central Command Public Affairs|language=en-US}}

Tasnim News Agency reported Islamic Revolutionary Guards Navy Commander Admiral Ali Fadavi said in a February 1 parliamentary session, "We have extracted extensive information from their [American sailors'] laptops and cell phones," and that the information can be made public if a decision is made to that effect.{{Cite web|title="Extensive Information" Obtained from US Sailors Captured by IRGC|url=http://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2016/02/01/987723/extensive-information-obtained-from-us-sailors-captured-by-irgc|agency=Tasnim News Agency|access-date=2016-02-02}}

According to the IRGC, when the Iranian forces seized the two boats, aircraft carriers {{USS|Harry S. Truman}} and {{ship|French aircraft carrier|Charles de Gaulle||2}} had been patrolling in the international waters southeast and northeast of Farsi Island, respectively, which IRGC Navy commander Ali Fadavi described it as "unprofessional behavior for forty minutes."{{Cite web|url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2016/01/13/970004/irgc-slams-us-aircraft-carrier-s-provocative-moves-after-sailors-seizure|title=IRGC Slams US Aircraft Carrier's Provocative Moves after Sailors' Seizure - Defense news|website=Tasnim News Agency}}

According to Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili, commander of Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base, after the IRGC Navy reported the capture of the U.S. Navy boats, the Air Defence switched on its missile systems and the Air Force fighter jets also scrambled. Three American F-18 fighters, a radar plane and a maritime patrol aircraft flew over the U.S. aircraft carriers and began to approach Farsi Island, conducted "bullying" behavior, and refused to respond to the signals, but made a contact later when the Iranian missiles zeroed on them and realized that they had "less than 30 seconds to decide before Iran's missiles are fired."{{Cite web|url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2016/02/08/994737/iran-s-missiles-were-ready-to-hit-us-jets-supporting-intruding-sailors-commander-says|title=Iran's Missiles Were Ready to Hit US Jets Supporting Intruding Sailors, Commander Says - Defense news|website=Tasnim News Agency}}

The U.S. Navy disciplined and/or reprimanded nine of the Navy men involved in the incident, ranging from higher commanders to sailors present on the boats.{{Cite news |last=Schmidt |first=Michael S. |date=June 30, 2016 |title=9 in Navy Disciplined Over Iran's Capture of Sailors |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/01/world/middleeast/us-navy-iran.html |via=}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36678976|title=US Navy criticises sailors captured in Iranian waters|work=BBC News |date=June 30, 2016}}

On the same day the American crewmembers were released with their vessels, Iran released a series of images and videos that, among other things, showed the U.S. Navy sailors on their knees with their hands clasped behind their heads as they were being apprehended on their vessels. Two of the videos featured one of the Americans,{{cite news |last=McCaskill |first=Nolan D. |date=13 January 2016 |title=Controversy explodes over Iranian images of U.S. sailors |newspaper=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/iran-navy-sailors-images-217709}} apparently the Navy lieutenant commanding the boats,{{cite web |last=Sanger |first=David E. |last2=Schmitt |first2=Eric |last3=Cooper |first3=Helene |date=14 January 2016 |title=Iran's Swift Release of U.S. Sailors Hailed as a Sign of Warmer Relations |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/14/world/middleeast/iran-navy-crew-release.html |work=The New York Times}} apologizing and praising Iran's treatment: "It was a mistake that was our fault, and we apologize for our mistake.... The Iranian behavior was fantastic while we were here and we thank you very much for your hospitality and your assistance." According to Politico, these pictures and footage further "inflam[ed] the American debate over [the sailors'] capture, including the question of whether the U.S. had formally apologized for entering Iranian territory." A Defense Department official said that the lieutenant's filmed apology was probably intended to defuse a potentially volatile situation.

File:Seyyed Ali Khamenei & Sardar Ali Fadavi by Khamenei.ir 02.jpg

• Iranian Armed Forces: Hossein Salami, Deputy Commander of the IRGC said that the Americans started crying during the detention and that no country has ever captured American service members since the Second World War. Ahmad Dolabi, commander of the IRGC unit that detained the American vessels said that the U.S. Navy personnel surrendered although they had all their weapons intact. Hassan Firouzabadi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces remarked that this latest incident may not be the last.{{cite news |last=Sharafedin |first=Bozorgmehr |date=13 January 2016 |title=Iran says seizure of U.S. boats a lesson to 'troublemakers' in Congress |work=Reuters |editor-last=Heavens |editor-first=Andrew |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran-boats-sanctions-idUSKCN0UR10Q20160113}}
• Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei awarded a Fath military medal to Commander of the IRGC Navy Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi as well as four others involved in the capture, thanked them for their efforts and sanctioned their actions.{{cite news |date=24 January 2016 |title=Iranian Leader Praises IRGC Naval Unit for Powerful Reaction to US Navy Trespassing |url=http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941104001112 |agency=Fars News Agency |access-date=24 January 2016 |archive-date=25 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125091924/http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941104001112 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last=Sharafedin |first=Bozorgmehr |date=20 January 2016 |title=Khamenei praises arrest of U.S. sailors, condemns Saudi embassy attack |work=Reuters |editor-last=Kasolowsky |editor-first=Raissa |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-iran-khamenei-idUSKCN0UY19G}}{{Cite web|title=Leader Confers Medal on IRGC Commanders for Capturing US Marines|url=http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941111001147|agency=Fars News|access-date=2016-02-01|archive-date=2016-02-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201095322/http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941111001147|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |last1= |date=31 January 2016 |title=Iran's supreme leader honors commanders who seized US navy boats |work=the Guardian |agency=Reuters in Dubai |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/31/iran-gives-medals-navy-commanders-captured-us-sailors |access-date=13 June 2016}}
• Foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif posted on Twitter that he was happy to see that dialogue and respect swiftly resolved the episode.{{cite news|last1=Sharafedin|first1=Bozorgmehr|last2=Stewart|first2=Phil|title=Iran frees U.S. sailors swiftly as diplomacy smoothes waters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran-boat-comment-idUSKCN0UR0K120160113|access-date=28 January 2016|work=Reuters|date=13 January 2016}}

File:Simulation of Arresting American Soldiers on February 2016 by Mbazri 01.jpg.]]

• On the 38th anniversary of the Iranian Islamic Revolution, teenagers were dressed like American sailors and held in a submissive manner to simulate the arrest of American sailors.{{cite news |last1= |title=Iranians mock US captives in parade to mark revolution |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-35553150 |access-date=16 February 2016}} Some Iranians reacted to it via social networks by criticizing the action and calling it "bizarre" and a "circus". According to the Iranian newspaper irdiplomacy, some social media websites are blocked in Iran so these reactions are not "broadly representative of views inside the country."{{cite news |last1= |date=14 February 2016 |title=Don't Make Us Look Ridiculous |work=www.irdiplomacy.ir |url=http://www.irdiplomacy.ir/en/page/1956462/Don%E2%80%99t+Make+Us+Look+Ridiculous.html |access-date=19 April 2016}}

• Secretary of State John Kerry thanked Iranian authorities for their cooperation, adding that "we can all imagine how a similar situation might have played out three or four years ago." However, he later stated that he was angry at videos of U.S. sailors being used for propaganda.
• According to the Obama administration, the speedy release of the sailors "shows the power of diplomacy and the promise of its new engagement with Iran."
• On February 14, 2016, U.S. Republican senator John McCain said he would subpoena the 10 U.S. sailors to testify about their brief detention by Iran if the Obama administration did not provide the findings of an investigation into the incident by March 1.{{Cite news|title=Senator McCain says could subpoena U.S. sailors held by Iran |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran-boats-idUSKCN0VO01S|work=Reuters|date=2016-02-15|access-date=2016-02-17}}
• On May 12, 2016, The U.S. Navy fired Commander Eric Rasch, the executive commander of the squadron that included the ten captured sailors.{{Cite news |last=Baldor |first=Lolita C. |date=2016-05-16 |title=Navy officer fired over Iran's detention of 10 sailors |publisher=AP |url=https://apnews.com/article/623d73ee736547a196c3902b78778dcb |url-status=live |access-date=2016-05-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513152930/http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/2f5ece421cdc4fdcb12ddfa9d46f2f41/navy-officer-fired-over-irans-detention-10-sailors |archive-date=2016-05-13}}
• Several critiques of the US Navy emerged after the investigation was published, though few changes were made.{{Cite news|title=Farsi Island: Surface Warfare's Wake-up Call|url=http://cimsec.org/farsi-island-surface-warfares-wake-call/26877|publisher=CIMSEC|date=2016-08-02| author1= Cummings, Alan |df=dmy-all}}
• The Navy handed down punishments to two officers and two enlisted sailors in charge of the riverine boat crews who surrendered in Iranian waters, causing an international incident and bringing embarrassment on the Navy for the litany of errors that led to their arrest and violations of regulations while in custody.{{cite web |url=https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2016/07/15/navy-punishes-four-sailors-who-were-detained-by-iran/ | website=Navy Times |title= Navy punishes four sailors who were detained by Iran |author1= Myers, Meghann |publisher= Sightline Media Group |date=2014-07-14 |access-date=2020-07-06 |df=dmy-all}}

• 2021 U.S.–Iran naval incident
• Iran–United States relations during the Obama administration
• 2004 Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel
• 2007 Iranian arrest of Royal Navy personnel
• 2008 U.S.–Iranian naval dispute
• 2011–12 Strait of Hormuz dispute
• Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

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{{Iran–United States relations}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2016 U.S.-Iranian naval incident}}

Category:Iran–United States military relations

Category:United States Navy in the 21st century

Category:International maritime incidents

Category:2016 in Iran

Category:Conflicts in 2016

Category:January 2016 in Asia

Category:History of the Persian Gulf

Category:Obama administration controversies

Category:January 2016 in Iran