Iran to build statue commemorating capture of U.S. sailors

Special to WorldTribune.com

Iran will construct a statue to commemorate its capture of 10 U.S. sailors and plans to turn it into a tourist attraction.

Commander Ali Fadavi, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps naval forces, said the monument would capture the moment the Americans surrendered to Iranian forces.

The 10 American sailors (pictured) were accused of 'snooping' and surrendered to Iranian troops in January. They were released 16 hours later after being questioned.
The 10 American sailors were accused of “snooping” and surrendered to Iranian troops on Jan. 12. They were released 16 hours later after being questioned.  /Reuters

“There are very many photographs of the major incident of arresting U.S. Marines in the Persian Gulf in the media and we intend to build a symbol out of them inside one of our naval monuments,” Fadavi told Iran’s Defense Press news agency.

The statue will likely be built on Kharg, a small Iranian island in the Persian Gulf close to where the sailors were captured on Jan. 12, the London Telegraph reported.

Fadavi said the American boats showed “unprofessional behavior and had air and naval moves for 40 minutes in the area. Certainly U.S. presence in Persian Gulf and their passage has never been innocent and we do not deem their passage as innocent.”

Republicans in the U.S. Congress and presidential hopeful Donald Trump blasted the Obama administration’s response to the incident, which Iran claimed included an apology.

“Those young people were on their hands and knees in a begging position with their hands up and thugs behind them with guns, and then we talk like it’s OK. It’s not OK. It’s lack of respect,” Trump said.

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