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US compels Iran to again release seized American sail drones
来源：shippingazette 编辑：编辑部 发布：2022/09/07 10:00:06
THE US has induced Iran for a second time recently to release American military sail drones that it seized at sea, reports Reuters.
Iran has been building up its naval presence in the Red Sea, near the coast of Yemen where Tehran backs Houthi forces.
The incident there, after an earlier one in the Gulf, was the latest reminder of US-Iran military tensions, even as both countries pursue nuclear talks. They follow exchanges of fire last week between US troops and Iran-backed groups in Syria.
Iran state television earlier acknowledged the Iranian Navy released two US maritime drones in the Red Sea but accused the American unmanned vessels of jeopardizing maritime safety.
"The Iranian frigate Jamaran seized the two vessels on to prevent any possible accident after issuing warnings to the US fleet. After international shipping lanes were secured, the two vessels were released in a safe area," state-TV said.
The US Navy challenged that account, saying the drones were in an assigned patrol area at least four nautical miles from the nearest maritime traffic lane.
A US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested the Iranians sought to secretly seize the drones, pulling the sail drones completely out of the water and then covering them with tarpaulin.
Iran initially denied having any US property before returning them to the US warships that converged on the scene.
Iran has been building up its naval presence in the Red Sea, near the coast of Yemen where Tehran backs Houthi forces.
The incident there, after an earlier one in the Gulf, was the latest reminder of US-Iran military tensions, even as both countries pursue nuclear talks. They follow exchanges of fire last week between US troops and Iran-backed groups in Syria.
Iran state television earlier acknowledged the Iranian Navy released two US maritime drones in the Red Sea but accused the American unmanned vessels of jeopardizing maritime safety.
"The Iranian frigate Jamaran seized the two vessels on to prevent any possible accident after issuing warnings to the US fleet. After international shipping lanes were secured, the two vessels were released in a safe area," state-TV said.
The US Navy challenged that account, saying the drones were in an assigned patrol area at least four nautical miles from the nearest maritime traffic lane.
A US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested the Iranians sought to secretly seize the drones, pulling the sail drones completely out of the water and then covering them with tarpaulin.
Iran initially denied having any US property before returning them to the US warships that converged on the scene.