Iran to return detained Iraqi sailors

Nine Iraqi sailors detained by Iran after a weekend clash involving an Iranian vessel are expected to be returned later today, according to Iraqi officials.

The governor of Basra, Mohammed al-Waeli, said the sailors were expected to be returned at about 3pm local time at the Shilamcha land border crossing between Iraq and Iran.

Khaled al-Shamary, spokesman for the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, confirmed that Iranian authorities notified Iraq that they will return the sailors.

Al-Waeli said the sailors were detained following a clash between Iraqi and Iranian coastguard ships near the Shatt al-Arab waterway, or Arvand River, in the Persian Gulf.

Iranian authorities have denied claims that an Iranian naval vessel fought a skirmish with an Iraqi coastguard ship, but said there was a clash between Iranian patrol boats and a merchant ship that headed toward Iranian waters.