Pentagon: Iran Holding 2 US Navy Boats
Voice of America
The crew of two small U.S. Navy vessels are being held by Iran, but Pentagon officials say Tehran has assured them that the crew and riverine boats will be "promptly" returned.
A senior U.S. defense official told VOA Tuesday there are 10 total U.S. sailors on the two boats, which were traveling between Kuwait and Bahrain when the U.S. lost contact with them.
Washington has been in communication with the Iranians, who have provided safety assurances and have promised to "promptly allow them to continue on their journey," according to the senior defense official.
U.S. officials said that the incident happened in the Persian Gulf near Farsi Island.
The news comes less than a month after U.S. officials accused Iran of launching a "highly provocative" rocket test near U.S. boats passing through the Strait of Hormuz.