Iran frees ten US sailors detained in Persian Gulf

Ten US navy personnel, detained by Iranian forces after two small boats were stopped and seized near Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf, have now reportedly been freed.

The two boats, both carrying weapons, had travelled more than a mile into Iranian territorial waters before they were stopped and the crew detained, reported Iran's semi-official news outlet Fars.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards also confiscated GPS navigation systems which Fars said would "prove that the American ships were 'snooping' around in Iranian waters".

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Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said the boats had been travelling between Kuwait and Bahrain when they briefly lost contact.

The US had been assured that the sailors – said to be nine men and a woman - would be returned "safely and promptly".

"We have been in contact with Iran and have received assurances that the ten crew members and the vessels will be returned promptly," said Cook, before their release.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest had also confirmed the "sailors are safe" and "will be allowed to continue their journey".

General Ali Fadavi, commander of Iran's naval forces, claims the US has apologised, although there has been no confirmation from Washington.

US officials publicly denied that the two vessels strayed intentionally and told Fox News that a mechanical failure on one of the boats caused the pair to drift into Iranian territorial waters by mistake.

The incident comes just days before Iran is expected to finalise the terms of an agreement with Washington which would see its nuclear capabilities curtailed in exchange for a suspension of wide-ranging trade sanctions from a number of countries, including the US.

Republican politicians say Tehran's actions are "further evidence that Iran is not to be trusted" ahead of a crucial vote today that could give Congress greater oversight of the agreement, CNBC reports. Republicans also noted that US President Barack Obama failed to mention the incident during his State of the Union address.