Rumors of Kerry Offering Apology to Iran Over US Boats Contain ‘Zero Truth’

Secretary of State John Kerry did not apologize to Tehran for the US boats entering Iranian territorial waters because of a mechanical failure, US Department of State spokesman John Kirby said via Twitter on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On Tuesday, the Department of Defense announced that Iran had seized two US boats in the Persian Gulf with ten sailors aboard.

“Absolutely zero truth to rumors that John Kerry apologized to Iran over Sailors,” Kirby tweeted. “Nothing to apologize for.”

Absolutely ZERO truth to rumors that @JohnKerry apologized to Iran over Sailors. Nothing to apologize for.

— John Kirby (@statedeptspox) 13 января 2016

​A source in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps told Sputnik on Wednesday that the US vessels entered Iranian territorial waters because of technical problems.

Iran’s revolutionary Guard chief General Ali Fadavi stated that the United States offered an apology for the incident.

Earlier on Wednesday, Vice President Joe Biden said there was no need for the US government to apologize, and called the incident standard nautical practice.

The Defense Department noted the US sailors were safe and would be able to continue their voyage onto Bahrain.