January 6, 2012 11:32 AM
- Text
U.S. rescues Iranian ship held by pirates
Photo of the USS Kidd rescuing the Iranian vessel from Somali pirates, Jan. 5, 2012. (U.S. Navy)
(CBS/AP)Updated at 4:09 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON – A U.S. Navy destroyer has rescued an Iranian fishing boat that had been commandeered by suspected pirates just days after Tehran warned the U.S. to keep its warships out of the Persian Gulf.
American forces flying off the guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd responded to a distress call from the Iranian vessel, the Al Molai, which had been held captive for more than 40 days, the U.S. Navy said Friday. The Kidd was sailing in the Arabian Sea, after leaving the Persian Gulf, when it came to the sailors’ aid.
Iran’s posturing may mask concerns of leaders
Iran plans new drills near Strait of HormuzA U.S. Navy team boarded the ship Thursday and detained 15 suspected Somali pirates. They had been holding the 13-member Iranian crew hostage and were using the boat as a “mother ship” for pirating operations in the Persian Gulf.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta commented on the rescue in an interview scheduled to air Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
(Watch at left)
“It’s what we do. And it’s what we do in that part of the world. We get a distress call, as we did in this case, even though it came from an Iranian ship. When the pirates went after them, we respond to those calls,” Panetta said. “We did what we have to do in that situation. I think it just sends an important message to the world that the United States is going to abide by international rules and international order, and that’s exactly what we did here.”
Video: Iran continues threats against oil shipping
Iran warns U.S. to back off from Persian Gulf
U.S.: Warships will sail despite Iran’s threatsIn the same interview, Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the suspected pirates surrendered without incident.
“I think in the face of the overwhelming combat power that was presented the pirates made the right decision,” he said.
Amid escalating tensions with Tehran, the Obama administration reveled in delivering the news.
“This is an incredible story. This is a great story,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said, explaining that the very same American ships the Islamic republic protested for recently traveling through the Strait of Hormuz were responsible for the Iranian vessel’s recovery.
“They were obviously very grateful to be rescued from these pirates,” Nuland said.
The episode occurred after a week of hostile rhetoric from Iranian leaders, including a statement by Iran’s Army chief that American vessels are no longer welcome in the Gulf. Iran also warned it could block the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway that carries to market much of the oil pumped in the Middle East.
The Iranian threats, which were brushed aside by the Obama administration, were in response to strong economic sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear enrichment program. Last week, President Obama signed into law new sanctions targeting Iran’s Central Bank and its ability to sell petroleum abroad.
According to the Navy, the Kidd was part of the USS John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, which had recently left the Persian Gulf through the Strait and into the northern Arabian Sea.
A Navy search and seizure team was taken by helicopter from the Kidd to the Al Molai.
“The Al Molai had been taken over by pirates for roughly the last 40-45 days,” said Josh Schminsky, a Navy Criminal Investigative Service agent aboard the Kidd. “They were held hostage, with limited rations, and we believe were forced against their will to assist the pirates with other piracy operations.”
Schminsky said the Iranian boat’s captain thanked the U.S. for assistance. “He was afraid that without our help, they could have been there for months,” Schminsky said in a prepared release.
The U.S. team gave the crew food, water and medical care. Nuland said the crew then returned the Iranians to their fishing vessels “and they went on their way.”
The captured pirates remain on the Stennis while the U.S. considers options for prosecution and consults with other nations that have joined forces against piracy.
“Sadly, this is not a new thing,” she told reporters, citing more than 1,000 pirates picked up at sea who are under prosecution in some 20 countries. “So this is always a question of where to send them and who will do the prosecution.”
Asked if the rescue mission could provide a chance for a thaw in relations with Iran, Nuland declined to comment. She said the Navy had made a “humanitarian gesture” to take the Iranians onboard, feed them and ensure they were in good health before setting them off. She said the U.S. and Iranian governments have had no direct contact over the incident.
© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
- 130 Comments Have Your Say
- Email StorySend to a Friend
- Share ThisTell Your Friends
- Tweet ThisTweet This
- MoreShare It
Add a Comment
- by quotelawrence January 6, 2012 10:37 PM EST
- I enjoy seeing the Navy show it’s heroism, but if the defense dept. doesn’t start clearly showing how offshoring of American industry is threatening our Service Men and Women, we need to sever our trade agreements with Countries such as China and once again supply Ourselves.
- Reply to this comment
- by take_a_number January 6, 2012 9:49 PM EST
- A sucker is born every second why do they always end up i government.
- Reply to this comment
- by myoleman January 6, 2012 8:39 PM EST
- But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Mt. 5:44
- Reply to this comment
- by ksmit2 January 6, 2012 8:21 PM EST
- Make no mistake. We are, and will always be, “The Great Satan”,
in the eyes of Iran. We do not, I repeat, we “Do Not” understand
how these people think, (and never will).- Reply to this comment
- by mherron111 January 6, 2012 7:46 PM EST
- This is a staged event by the USA who is attempting to broadcast this military industrial regime change ploy as a “humanitarian” event. Won’t belong before the bodies start dropping and the oil companies start privatizing Irans oil supply under the guise of humanitarianism. Don’t believe the hype. The US should get the hell out of Iran and leave these people alone.
- Reply to this comment
- by deohgee January 6, 2012 7:36 PM EST
- I wouldn’t do a f-in thing fir Iran
- Reply to this comment
- by dgriffi2 January 6, 2012 7:16 PM EST
- Now, all we need to do is turn over the “pirates” to Iran to deal with.
- Reply to this comment
- by bobnjersey January 6, 2012 7:11 PM EST
- [A U.S. Navy team boarded the ship Thursday and detained 15 suspected Somali pirates … In the same interview, Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the suspected pirates surrendered without incident … “This is an incredible story. This is a great story,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said, explaining that the very same American ships the Islamic republic protested for recently traveling through the Strait of Hormuz were responsible for the Iranian vessel’s recovery.]
——————————————
wow … those are some crazy pirates.15 of them and they surrender without incident.
generals and cabinet secretaries announce the rescue … made by the very ship that was singled out by the iranians only a week ago … no shots fired … flags waving in the wind … the music playing proudly in the background. great photography as well.
how impromptu.
- Reply to this comment
- by jgg00010 January 6, 2012 6:51 PM EST
- something smells fishy about this story. The somoli pirates operate in the straits of hormuz and their targets are cargo ships and luxury vessels where they can demand a ransom. Why the pirates would be interested in an iranian fishing boat makes very little sense. There’s nothing of value on a fishing boat and the iranian gov’t wouldn’t do squat to save them. The pirates who operate in the straits of hormuz, and the iranians who want to shut down the straits have a shared interest and more in common than just their religion. Also, the timing of this event is highly suspect given the recent threats from iran. And whatever happened to our drone?
- Reply to this comment
- by krisinal January 6, 2012 6:47 PM EST
- Turn the pirates over to the Iranians…..that would take care of those pirates.
- Reply to this comment
- Add a comment
- The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.
.Popular Now in World
- Booze and bikinis in a new Egypt
- Europe moves toward oil embargo against Iran
- 130 Doctors Without Borders staff go missing
- Report: Stray U.S. Missiles Hit Iran
- “Voluptuous” Ukrainian nurse abandons Qaddafi
- Mexico opens bridge among world’s highest
- Girl with Two Heads Born in Philippines
- 23 women convicted of child pornography in Sweden
- Iran warns U.S. to keep ship out of Gulf
- GlobalPost: Qaddafi apparently sodomized
- Cockpit error sent 737 into Pacific nose dive
- Stephen Hawking: Heaven is “a fairy story”
- Iran: US spy plane we shot down was test target
- Tiny Caribbean Nation Feels China’s Wrath
- WikiLeaks: China Hiding Military Buildup
- World’s Tallest Man and Shortest Woman Come Together
- Austrian women allege mass rapes at foster home
Latest CBS News Headlines
- Late spurt lifts Rose and Bulls over Magic, 97-83
- Nuggets use big second-half run to beat Hornets
- Giffords arrives in Tucson for shooting ceremonies
- US teenager mistakenly deported to Colombia in May is reunited with her family in Texas
Popular CBS News Stories
on Facebook
- Elin Nordegren, Tiger’s ex, bulldozes $12M house
- Gingrich slams media for distorting his comments on food stamps
Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News
Discover more from JC's Royal New Zealand Navy, World Navies, Military News, Lighthouses and other Marine News-
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.