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According to Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes, the boats were on \"patrol in the Persian Gulf,\" a situation they were tracking \"very closely.\"

\"We are working to resolve the situation,\" Rhodes said, adding that they \"are hopeful that it will be resolved.\"

This is not the first time Iran has seized western sailors in the Gulf. In March 2007, 15 British sailors were detained by Iran off of Iraq. Despite promises to return them, the sailors were held for 13 days.

Additional reporting by Justin Fishel.

Get real-time updates as this story unfolds. To start, just \"star\" this story in ABC News' phone app. Download ABC News for iPhone here or ABC News for Android here.

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