The Obama administration was blindsided Wednesday when Iran released a video showing a captured sailor apologizing to his captors for the two Navy vessels that strayed into Iranian waters — after Vice President Joe Biden insisted the United States had nothing to be sorry about.
“It was a mistake, that was our fault, and we apologize for our mistake,” said the sailor, who was identified by the Iranian interviewer as “commander” of the crew detained Tuesday.
The American serviceman was then asked if the GPS devices on the two seized vessels had alerted them to the intrusion into Iran’s territorial waters in the Persian Gulf.
“I believe so,” replied the sailor, one of 10 held by Iran before their release Wednesday.
The US Central Command later said the “video appears to be authentic, but we cannot speak to the conditions of the situation or what the crew was experiencing at the time.”
It added that the crew is “currently undergoing the reintegration process and we will continue to investigate this incident. What matters most right now, however, is that our sailors are back safely.”
Apparently unaware of the video, Biden told a TV interviewer Wednesday morning that the US hadn’t apologized, despite Iranian claims that it had.
“No, there was no apology, there was [nothing] to apologize for,” Biden said on CBS.
“When you have a problem with a boat, do you apologize the boat had a problem? No, and there was no looking for any apology. This was just standard nautical practice.”
Biden’s remarks came after the commander of the hard-line Revolutionary Guard told the BBC that the United States had indeed apologized after Iran released the 10 sailors and their boats.
Iranian state TV also released Wednesday additional videos and photographs of the Americans surrendering on their knees, with their hands behind their heads.
The sailors, nine men and one woman, were detained for less than a day after the training mission mishap.
During that time, Secretary of State John Kerry tapped the relationship he formed with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif during three years of nuclear treaty negotiations, speaking with him at least five times by phone, the White House said.
Kerry credited the quick resolution to the “critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country secure and strong.”
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) expressed outrage that the Obama administration showered praise on Iran and sugar-coated the arrest of 10 Americans.
He posted pictures of the sailors surrendering on Twitter. “Sec @JohnKerry says US sailors were ‘well taken care of’ & #Iran releases these photos – unbelievable.”
With Post Wires