Rescue at Sea.
The same U.S. aircraft carrier group that Iran warned not to return to the Gulf has rescued 13 Iranians held hostage for weeks by pirates in the Arabian Sea.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKEPERSON, VICTORIA NULAND, SAYING:
"The very same ship and set of vessels that the Iranian government complaint about their voyage through Hormuz, the John C. Stennis crew just rescued this Iranian dhow from pirates. There were actually 13 Iranians on board who claimed they had been held hostage by this pirates for some 40 to 45 days."
The rescue operation took place on Thursday, when forces with the USS John C. Stennis carrier strike group received a distress call from an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKEPERSON, VICTORIA NULAND, SAYING:
"They were rescued because they were in distressed as we as well as our allies and partners involved in this anti-pirate missions always take care of innocent civillians who've been vitims of piracy."
Iran ratcheted up tensions earlier this week by threatening to take action if the Stennis returned to the Gulf after departing in December.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.
