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Iran cancels plan to have warships approach US borders in Atlantic Iran cancels plan to have warships approach US borders in Atlantic
(about 3 hours later)
After a tense week of diplomacy between American and Iranian representatives, Iran has called off a deployment of warships to the Atlantic Ocean, the semi-official Fars news agency said on Sunday, shelving plans for its vessels to approach US maritime borders in response to the US navy's presence in the Gulf.After a tense week of diplomacy between American and Iranian representatives, Iran has called off a deployment of warships to the Atlantic Ocean, the semi-official Fars news agency said on Sunday, shelving plans for its vessels to approach US maritime borders in response to the US navy's presence in the Gulf.
The announcement comes shortly after Iran overturned the death sentence of a former US marine imprisoned in Iran on charges of working for the CIA. The American, Amir Hekmati, has had his sentence reduced to 10 years in prison by a supreme court decision. The commuted sentence is a positive signal for US-Iranian relations, but an ongoing debate over Iran's nominated diplomat to the UN threatens to derail nuclear negotiations. The diplomat, Hamid Aboutalebi, is barred entry to the US due to alleged links to the 1979 hostage crisis, but Tehran has refused to consider a new candidate.The announcement comes shortly after Iran overturned the death sentence of a former US marine imprisoned in Iran on charges of working for the CIA. The American, Amir Hekmati, has had his sentence reduced to 10 years in prison by a supreme court decision. The commuted sentence is a positive signal for US-Iranian relations, but an ongoing debate over Iran's nominated diplomat to the UN threatens to derail nuclear negotiations. The diplomat, Hamid Aboutalebi, is barred entry to the US due to alleged links to the 1979 hostage crisis, but Tehran has refused to consider a new candidate.
The US ambassador, Samantha Power, to the United Nations says talks about Iran's nuclear program are continuing undisturbed by Washington's decision to block Tehran's new ambassador to the world body. Power on Sunday told ABC's This Week that Iran's selection of Aboutalebi as UN envoy is not acceptable, and that Tehran should pick someone else. Aboutalebi has insisted his involvement in the 1979 embassy crisis was limited to translation and negotiation.
A senior Iranian naval commander was quoted in February as saying that several warships would be sent towards US maritime borders in the Atlantic, although the Pentagon said at the time that it was not concerned and that many countries operated in the ocean's international waters.A senior Iranian naval commander was quoted in February as saying that several warships would be sent towards US maritime borders in the Atlantic, although the Pentagon said at the time that it was not concerned and that many countries operated in the ocean's international waters.
On Sunday, Fars quoted navy commander Admiral Habibollah Sayyari as saying: "Due to a change in schedule, the battle Group-29 of the naval forces of the Iranian navy will not head to the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the mission will possibly be given to another group."On Sunday, Fars quoted navy commander Admiral Habibollah Sayyari as saying: "Due to a change in schedule, the battle Group-29 of the naval forces of the Iranian navy will not head to the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the mission will possibly be given to another group."
He gave no reason for the decision but said warships' missions were likely to change "depending on the situation in the region", such as a rise in piracy in the Gulf of Aden.He gave no reason for the decision but said warships' missions were likely to change "depending on the situation in the region", such as a rise in piracy in the Gulf of Aden.
"So [the] Group-29, which consists of the Sabalan destroyer, Khark logistics carrier and two helicopters … will not go to the Atlantic Ocean and will return home within days," Sayyari was quoted as saying."So [the] Group-29, which consists of the Sabalan destroyer, Khark logistics carrier and two helicopters … will not go to the Atlantic Ocean and will return home within days," Sayyari was quoted as saying.
The US and its allies regularly stage naval exercises in the Gulf, saying they want to ensure freedom of navigation in the waterway through which 40% of the world's seaborne oil exports passes.The US and its allies regularly stage naval exercises in the Gulf, saying they want to ensure freedom of navigation in the waterway through which 40% of the world's seaborne oil exports passes.
Iran, whose entire 1,800 km southern border runs along the Gulf and the adjacent Gulf of Oman, has often said it could block the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the two waters, if Tehran came under military attack over its disputed nuclear programme.Iran, whose entire 1,800 km southern border runs along the Gulf and the adjacent Gulf of Oman, has often said it could block the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the two waters, if Tehran came under military attack over its disputed nuclear programme.