Joe Biden: America Has Not Apologized to Iran for the Sailors

While the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that American officials had apologized for their vessels entering Iranian waters, the U.S. Vice President stated that Tehran had made no such request and that no apology had been issued. According to the Associated Press, Joe Biden said on Wednesday, January 13, in an interview with CBS regarding the detention and subsequent release of U.S. Marines in Iranian waters: "Washington has not apologized to Iran at all for the entry of its Marines into the waters of this country." The U.S. Vice President further added: "There is no reason to apologize; this was just a standard naval exercise, and no request for an apology [from Iran] has been made." Earlier on Wednesday, both in a statement from the Revolutionary Guard and in comments by Ali Fadavi, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard Navy, it was stated that the American Marines were released after an apology from U.S. officials to Iran. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry thanked Iran for its cooperation in the diplomatic resolution of the detention of these Marines. In a statement issued hours after the release of the American sailors, Kerry announced that "the peaceful and effective resolution of this issue is a sign of the critical role of diplomacy in keeping our countries safe and secure." Kerry had spoken with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif shortly after the seizure of the American vessels near Farsi Island. Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter also welcomed Iran's action following the release of the 10 Marines, expressing his gratitude to John Kerry for the "diplomatic engagements he had in this regard." An image released of the U.S. Marines after their detention by Iran. The impact of communication channels between Iran and the U.S. on the release of the Marines. According to a White House official, "new communication channels" established during negotiations between Iran and the U.S. over the nuclear issue played a key role in the release of these Marines. According to the Associated Press, Denis McDonough, a White House official, stated on Wednesday that the role of diplomatic channels created during the nuclear negotiations was "very important" in resolving the issue concerning these servicemen. According to this U.S. official, the relationship between John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif played a significant role in resolving this issue and the release of the U.S. Marines. The 10 American sailors, along with two of their Navy boats, were detained by Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday. A Pentagon spokesperson stated that these boats were moving between Kuwait and Bahrain when contact was lost with them. In this regard, the Revolutionary Guard announced in a statement that "at 16:30 on Tuesday, two American combat vessels carrying ten armed Marines that entered the territorial waters of the Islamic Republic of Iran near Farsi Island were seized by the combat units of the second naval zone of the Revolutionary Guard and transferred to Farsi Island." On Wednesday, the Revolutionary Guard announced the release of the detained American Marines in international waters.