WATCH: Terrifying moment when Iran forces US sailors onto their knees before interrogation
THIS is the moment Iranian troops boarded a US vessel and made 10 American sailors get down on their knees as they arrested them.
Video out now RT @Hassanvand: BREAKING VIDEO: Iran state TV footage of moment of arresting 2 US boats & personnel pic.twitter.com/AW20dD5lT6
— Michael Rusch (@weeddude) January 13, 2016
Iranian state television has shown the moment 10 US Navy members surrendered and were put under arrest after their boats allegedly strayed into Iranian waters.
The moment threatened to wreck recent diplomatic efforts to smooth over tensions between the two countries.
The tense incident took place just days before Tehran is expected to agree with the terms of last summer's controversial nuclear deal.
The footage shows the Americans kneeling on board with their hands behind their heads as the Iranians move in to detain them.
Iranian state television has shown the moment 10 US Navy members surrendered
Additional footage also showed the sailors sitting on the floor in a room and eating.
The sailors had been moving through the Gulf between Kuwait and Bahrain when their patrol boats developed mechanical problems.
The Iranians made 10 American sailors get down on their knees as they arrested them
The nine men and one woman were interrogated and held overnight on Farsi Island in the Gulf, where the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps have a base.
However, all sailors were allowed to leave unharmed on Wednesday after a peaceful resolution to the matter.
Barack Obama's administration has described the incident as a "testament to the critical role that diplomacy plays" in keeping the world safe.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard said the US apologized for their action
The White House said the new lines of communications established with Iran following the nuclear negotiations were key to securing the sailors' swift release.
US Secretary of State John Kerry, who called his counterpart Mohammad Zarif immediately, thanked Iran for their "co-operation"
He said he wanted to "express my gratitude to Iranian authorities for their co-operation in swiftly resolving this matter".
But, the administration insisted there was no apology issued to secure the sailor's release - contradicting the Iranian version of events.
US State Department spokesman John Kirby said there was "absolutely zero truth" to rumours that Mr Kerry apologised to Iran.
Additional footage also showed the sailors sitting on the floor in a room and eating
In the Iranian footage, one US sailor is shown issuing an apology while still in custody.
He said: "It was a mistake that was our fault and we apologise for our mistake."
Iran's Revolutionary Guard, who first accused the sailors of spying, said: "After determining that their entry into Iran's territorial waters was not intentional and their apology, the detained American sailors were released in international waters."