The irony of it all: U.S. rescues Iranian ship held by pirates

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.

The irony of it all: U.S. rescues Iranian ship held by pirates Navyrescue120105nzz9990

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.

A 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.

In 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.

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."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57353833/u.s-rescues-iranian-ship-held-by-pirates/

The irony of it all: U.S. rescues Iranian ship held by pirates

The irony of it all: U.S. rescues Iranian ship held by pirates

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