DUBAI (AFP) - A US destroyer has rescued six Iranian sailors who had been stranded in the Gulf for 10 days after their boat's engine failed, the US navy said in a statement.

The USS Gonzalez destroyer was patrolling [persian] Gulf waters as part of its mission in support of the US-led war on terror when it spotted the distressed Iranian vessel, the statement said.

The Iranian sailors explained that their boat's engine and rudder had failed on February 18, it added.

The US Navy's Fifth Fleet is based in the [Persian] Gulf kingdom island of Bahrain.

"Gonzalez's boarding party gave the Iranian crew food and water as they had exhausted their supplies during the 10 days adrift," said the statement.

"Gonzalez then coordinated the mariners repatriation with other members of the coalition conducting MSO (maritime security operations) in the area and the Iranian authorities."

The United States has had no diplomatic ties with Iran since the seizure of US hostages in Tehran in 1979.

The US administration also accuses the Islamic republic of using its nuclear programme to make weapons and has asked Congress to approve 75 million dollars to campaign for regime change in the country, mostly through round-the-clock television and radio broadcasts.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060301/wl_mideast_afp/iranusmilitaryrescue_060301175037;_ylt=Atl.Mvpwzyn egsnlooVqG.RSw60A;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVR PUCUl

Im sure the Iranians would of done the same for stranded US sailors.

Sure...

So....did the Iranians thanks US Navy?

Originally Posted by Rabs

Im sure the Iranians would of done the same for stranded US sailors.

I am going to be serious here but during Operation Enduring Freedom in late 2001, Iranians agreed to help in SAR missions to find US Pilots downed over western parts of Afghanistan or inside of Iran and provide medical and other cares to US soldiers stranded in the Iranian territories.

And AFAIK, Iran agreed to the use of one of its ports in SE (Port of Chabahr) of the country for the US supplies to go through.