Just in case Barack Obama missed the provocative photo of ten of the sailors in his command with their hands raised, the government of Iran (aka his new BFF) celebrated the capture earlier this month by awarding five of the captors the Fath (Victory) Medal.
Iran’s state news agency announced the awards Sunday. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei personally awarded the medals, one week after he praised the capture as “very excellent, interesting, and timely.”
Iran captured the ten sailors Jan. 12 after their patrol boats allegedly strayed into Iranian territorial waters. They were freed the following day, but not before Tehran broadcast footage of them in captivity with guns pointed at their heads. Iran also forced the sailors to publicly apologize for entering their waters.
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The stunt was the latest that should have elicited a response from the White House, if not put a strain on the recently approved nuclear deal with Iran, but so far Obama has refused to speak up against the acts of provocation, which appear to be ongoing. Just days after the capture, numerous sanctions on Iran formally ended.
The award went to Ali Fadevi, a rear admiral in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard navy, along with four lesser commanders involved in the capture operation. Besides receiving the medals, Khamenei also approved the promotion of several other figures involved in the capture.
This report, by Blake Neff, was cross-posted by arrangement with the Daily Caller News Foundation.