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American Navy Assists Iranian Sailors

U.S. Navy sailors aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Gonzalez rescued six Iranian mariners after an engine malfunction left them adrift for 10 days. The Gonzalez, currently on deployment in the Arabian Gulf, spotted what they describe as a "crippled dhow," and immediately changed course to assist.

Sailors from the Gonzalez boarded and provided the crew with food and water, as well as technical assistance. However, the sailors found the engine beyond repair. Cmdr. Robert D. Randall, commander of the USS Gonzalez, says, "It felt good to assist. You know, patrolling warships are sometimes called on for humanitarian interventions."

According to the military officials, naval assets conducting coalition maritime security operations have a longstanding tradition of providing medical assistance, engineering assistance, and search and rescue to mariners from countries that have good relations with the U.S. as well as those from countries, such as Iran, that do not at the moment.