In a fitting stage-setter for critics to lampoon President Obama’s foreign policy weakness, Iranian armed forces seized two U.S. Navy vessels and took ten American servicemen into custody Tuesday afternoon just hours before the State of the Union address.

The incident and its timing are sure to draw uncomfortable comparisons for the president with former President Jimmy Carter. He endured the showmanship of the Iranians when American hostages, held throughout the end of Carter’s presidency in the incident known as the Iran Hostage Crisis, were returned just moments after Ronald Reagan was sworn in as president.

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The sailors and vessels were seized earlier in the day after allegedly entering Iranian territorial waters.

Reports indicated Iranian officials have promised a swift return of the sailors and craft, but their actual whereabouts have not been widely reported.

The Carter of a new generation, Obama has repeatedly reduced American influence and respect in the Middle East by desperately pursuing a nuclear deal with Iran, and backing away from his Syrian red line in the sand over the use of chemical weapons.

Despite the strong objections from key American allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia, the president acquiesced to the ayatollahs on the 14th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks that killed 3,000 Americans. He celebrated a nuclear pact with Iran’s religious leaders — who call the U.S. “the Great Satan” and incite crowds to chant “Death to America.”

While just 20 percent of Americans agreed with the plan, Obama agreed to a deal that essentially amounts to a non-aggression pact. The agreement remains unsigned, but only because Iran is not yet satisfied with the concessions made by Obama.

The administration has long threatened sanctions “with teeth” if Iran balks at a deal, but has so far done nothing. Just last Sunday, Fox News’ Chris Wallace asked Obama’s chief of staff, Dennis McDonough, if they are “going to punish Iran for violating the ballistic missile testing, or not?”

“We will issue those sanctions and those designations at the appropriate time. There’s no question about it.”​ They are “going to punish Iran for violating the ballistic missile testing, or not?” he said.

The latest incident will surely be alarming for Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, who has been unable to untether her own foreign policy record from that of President Obama.