Yet Again: U.S. Coast Guard rescues 6 Iranians in Persian Gulf
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued six Iranian mariners at the northern end of the Persian Gulf early Tuesday, the Pentagon said.
The rescue is the second time in a week that Americans rescued Iranians at sea, intervals of goodwill during a wave of tension between Iran and the United States, which have been adversaries for decades.
The latest incident took place around 50 miles southeast of the Iraqi port of Um Qasr.
The Pentagon said the Coast Guard cutter Monomoy reported the rescue took place after the Iranians’ small merchant vessel, a cargo dhow called Ya-Hussan, apparently flooded.
The cutter responded to flares and flashlights from the vessels in distress. The six Iranians were taken on board and one was treated for non-serious injuries.
They were given water, blankets and halal meals. The meals are prepared in accordance with Muslim law and kept on ships in case there are Muslim mariners in distress.
Also, an interpreter helped in the rescue.
“Saving lives is the last thing you expect to do at 0300 while patrolling in the Northern Arabian Gulf, but being in the Coast Guard, that’s what we are trained to do,” said Boatswain Mate 2nd Class Emily Poole, Monomoy’s medic.
The Pentagon quoted Hakim Hamid-Awi, the owner of the Ya-Hassan, as saying, “Without your help, we were dead. Thank you for all that you did for us.”
The six were transferred by rigid hull inflatable boats from the Monomoy to the Iranian Coast Guard vessel Naji 7.
The Naji 7 captain via translator sent his regards and thanks to the captain and crew “for assisting, and taking care of the Iranian sailors.” The captain thanked the crew for its “cooperation.”
There wasn’t an immediate reaction from the Iranian government.