US ship rescues Iranians at sea _ again

WASHINGTON – For the second time in less than a week, a U.S. ship has rescued Iranian mariners in distress.

The Pentagon announced Tuesday that a U.S. Coast Guard cutter picked up six Iranians from a cargo dhow in the northern Persian Gulf, including one who had suffered burn injuries. The Iranian vessel apparently had engine trouble.

The incident happened early Tuesday morning local time.

Pentagon press secretary George Little said it was not immediately clear how the Coast Guard cutter would return the Iranians.

Last Thursday a U.S. Navy ship rescued 13 Iranian fishermen who had been held captive aboard their ship by pirates.