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Thursday 14 Jan 2016 - 13:14 Makkah mean time-4-4-1437
Washington, (IINA) - The U.S has thanked Iran for the swift release of 10 US sailors held for entering its territorial waters, BBC reported.
Secretary of State John Kerry said the resolution of the matter was "testament to the critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country safe". However, Republican presidential hopefuls have criticized the administration over its handling of the incident.
The sailors were detained on Tuesday when one of their two vessels broke down while training in the Gulf. The incursion was "unintentional", a statement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards quoted by state media said.
Iranian state media said the sailors were released into international waters after they apologized. But U.S Vice-President Joe Biden denied this, saying the boat simply had a problem, and there was "nothing to apologize for".
The US is currently investigating how the sailors entered Iranian waters.
Kerry thanked Iranian authorities for their "cooperation and quick response", stressing that "these are always situations which have an ability, if not properly guided, to get out of control”.
He added: "This kind of issue was able to be peacefully resolved and officially resolved, and that is testament to the critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country safe, secure, and strong".
It is noteworthy that a process to begin lifting the sanctions imposed on Iran due to its nuclear activities is expected to get under way at the end of this week.
AG/IINA
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