Iran Detains British Yachtsmen

From the Telegraph:

David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, has admitted there is a "very high level of concern" about the five British sailors detained by the Iranian authorities.

Speaking outside the Foreign Office in central London, Mr Miliband stressed that the detention of the yachtsmen had nothing to do with politics adding that he hoped it would be resolved in a "speedy and professional manner".

But acknowledging the seriousness of the situation he added: "There's obviously a very high level of concern about the five young yachtsmen and their position. It's a particularly worrying time for the families."

Mr Miliband said the men, who were sailing from Bahrain to Dubai to take part in a race when they strayed into Iranian coastal waters, were being treated well but their location was unknown at the present time.

Iran has threatened to take "serious" measures against the sailors if it finds they had "evil intentions" and the British Foreign Office is awaiting for a further statement on the matter.

Mr Miliband stressed there was no suggestion that the sailors had any "malicious intent" and said he remained hopeful there would be a resolution soon.

He said: "This is a human story of five young yachtsmen. It's got nothing to do with politics. It's got nothing to do with (Iran's) nuclear enrichment programme.

"It's a consular case, which is being treated as a consular case by the UK, and I'm sure will be treated as a consular case by the Iranian authorities.

"It has no relation to any other issue. On that basis, I hope it will be resolved in a speedy and professional manner."

A close aide to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the five would be put through the due legal process.

"Judiciary will decide about the five," Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaie, the president's head of staff, told the Iranian news agency Fars. "Naturally our measures will be hard and serious if we find out they had evil intentions."

The five were arrested by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' naval forces on Wednesday. It is thought that they had strayed less than 500 yards inside Iranian waters after developing propeller problems.