Iran Seizure of 2 US Navy Vessels Prompts Firing of Commanding Officer

The commander of Naval forces for US Central Command has dismissed the officer in charge of expeditionary forces in the Persian Gulf, who oversaw a task force in which two Navy vessels were seized by Iranian Revolutionary Guards in January and its sailors publicly humiliated, the US Navy announced in a press release on Friday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Capt. Kyle Moses was relieved of command due to a loss of confidence in his ability and reassigned to administrative duties, the release explained.

"Several weeks ago, I had initially taken what I felt was appropriate administrative and corrective action involving Capt. Moses based on the preliminary results of the investigation, which I began immediately after we recovered our sailors," US Central Command’s Naval Forces commander Vice Adm. Kevin Donegan stated. "However, after thoroughly examining the findings of the final, comprehensive investigation, I determined that this additional action was necessary."

The intervention of US Secretary of State John Kerry led to the release of ten US sailors who were held captive for one day after two US patrol vessels accidentally strayed into Iranian waters. Kerry’s intervention came at a crucial point in the implementation of a nuclear deal with Iran.

Iran released photos of the sailors being held at gunpoint and one sailor was reportedly pressed into apologizing.