Tehran has released provocative new photographs and video of the US sailors who were detained in the Persian Gulf hours before President Obama’s State of the Union Address last month, after they strayed into Iranian waters.
The photos and video were aired on state television and shared to social media by Iranian reporters. Some of the images feature one of the sailors emotionally wiping away tears.
The day of the incident, photos were released of the sailors on their knees with their hands on their heads. There has also been a video released of one of the detained men apologizing for crossing into the country’s water.
"I’m appreciative for the quick and appropriate response of the Iranian authorities," Secretary of State John Kerry said of the treatment of the sailors. "All indications suggest or tell us that our sailors were well taken care of, provided with blankets and food and assisted with their return to the fleet earlier today."
Arizona Senator John McCain tweeted a photo of the sailors with their hands on their heads, condemning Kerry’s statement.
President Barack Obama had also expressed gratitude for the treatment the sailors received, drawing much criticism from Republican leaders and presidential candidates.
"By the way, I don’t know if you saw these images—they are really horrifying, and it really made me really angry this morning to see,” Florida Senator and GOP presidential candidate Marco Rubio said at a campaign stop in South Carolina following the incident. “American sailors, on their knees, hands behind their head, a female sailor forced to wear a headscarf, penned up in a jail cell. You know why these things happen? Because they know they can get away with it with Barack Obama in office. They know they can humiliate us. Now, look, this is not what you do."
The Obama administration has not yet responded to the newly released photos.
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