‘After explanations the US gave and the assurances they made, we determined that violation of Iranian territorial waters was not deliberate, so we guided the boats out of Iranian waters.’
He said cooperation in line with convention of Safety of Life at Sea and the international law and humanitarian approach towards the issue were the criterion of Iranian Navy at high seas and the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
The spokesman said that Tuesday evening, two US military boats, carrying 10 US marines, were monitored by Iranian Navy as they stopped and stranded around Farsi Island territorial waters.
They were directed to the Navy Forces’ base within framework of the irrevocable policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding guaranteeing security and safety of sailing in the Persian Gulf.
He said that since deliberate entry of military boats to territorial waters of the Islamic Republic of Iran is in violation of the country’s laws and regulations, the cause of the boats’ entry was taken into consideration.
Ansari added that it became clear that their presence in the region was due to technical fault of the vessels navigation system. So, the vessels were released.
Regarding approach of the date for implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif and the US Secretary of State John Kerry are in contacts. The issue on the US marines’ entry was also among topics discussed in the contacts and the two sides prepared the ground for settlement of the issue soon.
