John Kerry Expresses 'Gratitude' to Iran After U.S. Sailors Are Released — Then Iranian State TV Publishes These Images

Secretary of State John Kerry publicly thanked the Iranian government for the release of 10 U.S. Navy sailors, but shortly after the statement, the Iranian government released images of the capture as if to boast.

“I want to express my gratitude to Iranian authorities for their cooperation ‎in swiftly resolving this matter,” Kerry said in a statement Wednesday.

Iran’s capture of 10 Navy sailors Tuesday came as a significant embarrassment for the U.S. as President Barack Obama delivered the State of the Union address that night and touted his Iranian nuclear deal.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps released the 10 U.S. Navy sailors Wednesday. Iran claimed the boats had drifted into Iranian waters.

"I'm very pleased that our Sailors have been safely returned to U.S. hands,” Kerry said in a statement. “As a former Sailor myself, I know the importance of naval presence around the world and the critical work being done by our Navy in the Gulf region. I'm proud of our young men and women in uniform and know how seriously they take their responsibilities to one another and to other mariners in distress."

Kerry was a key player in working out the nuclear deal with the Iranians.

Here are the images shown on ABC News.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard capture of U.S. Navy sailors (Image source: ABC News)

One of the images released by the Iranian government of the capture of U.S. Navy sailors (Image source: ABC News)