WASHINGTON (AP) – In its first official account of Iran’s seizure and subsequent release of 10 U.S. sailors in the Persian Gulf, the U.S. military said Monday the only items found missing from their two recovered boats were SIM cards for two satellite phones.
But key questions, such as why the sailors had deviated from their planned route to enter Iranian territorial waters, remain unanswered in the account released by U.S. Central Command. It’s calling the description a preliminary timeline of the events of Jan. 12-13.
“A Navy command investigation initiated Jan. 14 will provide a more complete accounting of events,” Central Command said.
The investigation will focus on the U.S. sailors’ treatment while in custody, including any interrogation by Iranian personnel, the command said.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter said last week while visiting Central Command headquarters in Florida that the boat crews had “misnavigated.” He did not say how that mistake happened or provide other substantial details about an episode that posed a potential complication to efforts by Washington and Tehran to establish better relations.