The spokesman further said on Friday that “I think the only people unhappy about it are the Republicans,” Earnest told reporters.

According to the Blaze.com, Earnest said he did not believe the treatment of the captives related to the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits the use of prisoners for propaganda.

“When it comes to the Geneva conventions, my understanding is that it primarily applies to prisoners of war,” Earnest said. “Based on what I’ve been told, the Geneva convention does not apply in this particular circumstance.”

Asked whether the sailor who apologized on video violated the Military Code of Conduct, Earnest responded that the White House does not want to interfere with a Defense Department review.

Meanwhile, on Jan 13, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said he was “happy to see dialogue and respect, not threats and impetuousness, swiftly resolved the sailors’ episode.”

In a post on his Twitter account, Zarif said, 'Let's learn from this latest example,” IRNA reported.

S/SH