The Obama administration is keeping secret shocking details of how several U.S. sailors captured by Iran earlier this year were treated by the Islamic Republic, a member of the House Armed Services Committee told the Washington Free Beacon.
In January, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) seized two U.S. Navy vessels in the Persian Gulf and detained ten American sailors onboard at gunpoint, arguing that they illegally entered Iran’s territorial waters.
The Free Beacon learned from Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) that “the classified details behind Iran’s treatment of several U.S. sailors who were captured by the Islamic Republic during a tense standoff earlier this year are likely to shock the nation… these details are currently being withheld by the Obama administration.”
“I’ve had a full classified briefing” from military officials,” declared Forbes.“It could be as long as a year before we actually get that released.”
“I think that when the details actually come out, most Americans are going to be kind of taken aback by the entire incident, both how Iran handled it and how we handled it,” he added. “I think that’s going to be huge cause for concern for most Americans. That’s why I’ve encouraged members of Congress to get that briefing so they do know exactly what did take place.”
Experts argue that the Obama administration’s handling of the abduction violated international and maritime law.
Article 2 of the U.S. Navy Code of Conduct dictates, “I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.”
“If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy,” adds article 3.
Forbes believes that Iran, which has been officially designated a state sponsor of terrorism by the United States, may have treated the sailors much worse than previously disclosed.
The Islamic Republic photographed one American sailor crying and forced all of them to apologize at gunpoint.
“I think clearly there were violations of international and maritime law that took place here,” Forbes said. “We [the United States] did almost nothing in response, in fact, to have Secretary [of State John] Kerry actually thank them for releasing our sailors after they way they captured them, I think was a slap in the sailors’ face.”
“The administration will not stand up and say this is just wrong,” he added. “Instead of thanking them the administration should be standing up and saying it’s wrong.”
Rear Adm. Ali Fadavi, commander of the IRGC Navy, recently warned that Iran would drown U.S. warships if they pose a threat to the Islamic Republic.
He later declared, “We don’t see any enemy but the Americans,” adding that the United States is getting weaker.
The Free Beacon notes that “Forbes is pushing a new measure that would increase sanctions on Tehran for its treatment of the U.S. sailors in order to hold Iran accountable for its aggressive behavior.”
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.