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| Bid to free UK crew held by Iran | Bid to free UK crew held by Iran |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Efforts are continuing to try to secure the release of five Britons detained by the Iranian navy. | Efforts are continuing to try to secure the release of five Britons detained by the Iranian navy. |
| Their Volvo 60 yacht backed by the UK's Team Pindar was sailing from Bahrain to Dubai when stopped on 25 November. | Their Volvo 60 yacht backed by the UK's Team Pindar was sailing from Bahrain to Dubai when stopped on 25 November. |
| The FCO said the crew - Luke Porter, Oliver Smith, David Bloomer, Oliver Young and Sam Usher - may have "strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters". | The FCO said the crew - Luke Porter, Oliver Smith, David Bloomer, Oliver Young and Sam Usher - may have "strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters". |
| An official in Iran reportedly said "serious" measures would be taken if they had "evil intentions". | An official in Iran reportedly said "serious" measures would be taken if they had "evil intentions". |
| According to the Reuters news agency, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaie, the president's head of staff, told Iran's Fars news agency that: "Judiciary will decide about the five... naturally our measures will be hard and serious if we find out they had evil intentions." | According to the Reuters news agency, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaie, the president's head of staff, told Iran's Fars news agency that: "Judiciary will decide about the five... naturally our measures will be hard and serious if we find out they had evil intentions." |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he was expecting the Iranians to make a statement later on Tuesday. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he was expecting the Iranians to make a statement later on Tuesday. |
| ANALYSIS By Jon Leyne, BBC Tehran correspondent Comments about possible hard and serious measures against them are particularly ominous because of the person they have come from, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaie. He is probably the closest ally of Mr Ahmadinejad in the government, very much his ideological mentor, so a real hardliner. We will have to see how they play it, but there is always the danger of some sort of tussle within the machine, with some wanting a hard line, others thinking it might harm Iran's interests. There are a couple of other issues. The Foreign Secretary is using diplomatic channels, he's hoping to speak to the Iranian foreign minster - but the Iranian foreign minister may not run far with the Revolutionary Guards because they basically think they are in charge. Iran also has the most public holidays of any country in the world and they have two more coming up, so even in the normal run of things it is going to be a lengthy process. class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/7064353.stm">Profile: Iran's Revolutionary Guards class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8387670.stm">Analysis: Bridget Kendall class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8387932.stm">Detained UK yacht crew - reaction | |
| He also said he hoped the matter would be resolved "soon" and that there was "no confrontation or argument". | He also said he hoped the matter would be resolved "soon" and that there was "no confrontation or argument". |
| He added: "These are five civilians - they're yachtsmen. They were going about their sport and it seems they may have strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters. We look forward to the Iranian government dealing with this promptly and clearly." | He added: "These are five civilians - they're yachtsmen. They were going about their sport and it seems they may have strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters. We look forward to the Iranian government dealing with this promptly and clearly." |
| Earlier he said: "FCO officials immediately contacted the Iranian authorities in London and in Tehran on the evening of 25 November, both to seek clarification and to try and resolve the matter swiftly. | Earlier he said: "FCO officials immediately contacted the Iranian authorities in London and in Tehran on the evening of 25 November, both to seek clarification and to try and resolve the matter swiftly. |
| "Our ambassador in Tehran has raised the issue with the Iranian foreign ministry and we have discussed the matter with the Iranian embassy in London." | "Our ambassador in Tehran has raised the issue with the Iranian foreign ministry and we have discussed the matter with the Iranian embassy in London." |
| Dubai-Muscat Offshore Race organisers said the crew, who were preparing for a race, may have been "drifting" after experiencing propeller problems. | Dubai-Muscat Offshore Race organisers said the crew, who were preparing for a race, may have been "drifting" after experiencing propeller problems. |
| Louay Habib, from the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, told the BBC the shore crew for the boat the Kingdom of Bahrain had said "there was no wind at the time, and they told us that they were organising for a tow to come and get them". | Louay Habib, from the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, told the BBC the shore crew for the boat the Kingdom of Bahrain had said "there was no wind at the time, and they told us that they were organising for a tow to come and get them". |
| He added: "It's purely speculation but they would have probably been drifting... in 10 hours they could well have strayed into Iranian waters." | He added: "It's purely speculation but they would have probably been drifting... in 10 hours they could well have strayed into Iranian waters." |
| David Young, Mr Young's father, said his 21-year-old son was a "fanatical yachtsman". | David Young, Mr Young's father, said his 21-year-old son was a "fanatical yachtsman". |
| He added: "He's been a professional yachtsman for three years and he's a confident young man, he's travelled all over the world. We've got very little concern that he'll cope with this very well. | He added: "He's been a professional yachtsman for three years and he's a confident young man, he's travelled all over the world. We've got very little concern that he'll cope with this very well. |
| "We had a brief conversation with him [on Sunday]. They were sounding in good spirits and were being well looked after. | "We had a brief conversation with him [on Sunday]. They were sounding in good spirits and were being well looked after. |
| Oliver Young's father says he son is "in good spirits" | |
| "The journalist that's with them has got a local mobile that they were allowed to use... all of us were able to have a quick conversation, each of the families." | "The journalist that's with them has got a local mobile that they were allowed to use... all of us were able to have a quick conversation, each of the families." |
| The five, who are still in Iran, are understood to be safe and well and their families have been told. | The five, who are still in Iran, are understood to be safe and well and their families have been told. |
| Charles Porter, of Weston-super-Mare, who is the father of 21-year-old Luke, said he and his wife Beverley were concerned. | Charles Porter, of Weston-super-Mare, who is the father of 21-year-old Luke, said he and his wife Beverley were concerned. |
| He said: "We are holding things together as a family at the moment. I haven't spoken to him since yesterday. He was as good as can be expected." | He said: "We are holding things together as a family at the moment. I haven't spoken to him since yesterday. He was as good as can be expected." |
| Nicola Drayton, of Scarborough, North Yorkshire, is the fiancee of Sam Usher and said she was in contact with the Foreign Office about her partner's situation in Iran. | Nicola Drayton, of Scarborough, North Yorkshire, is the fiancee of Sam Usher and said she was in contact with the Foreign Office about her partner's situation in Iran. |
| She said: "It's difficult but you just get on, you have no choice." | She said: "It's difficult but you just get on, you have no choice." |
| She added that Mr Usher was the owner of Wykeham Watersports, a sailing academy on the Dawnay Estate, north east of York. | She added that Mr Usher was the owner of Wykeham Watersports, a sailing academy on the Dawnay Estate, north east of York. |
| Mr Smith, 31, is an engineer, from Southampton. His teammate Mr Bloomer is said to work as a sports broadcaster in Bahrain. | Mr Smith, 31, is an engineer, from Southampton. His teammate Mr Bloomer is said to work as a sports broadcaster in Bahrain. |
| It is not known where the sailors are being held but the FCO did confirm they were on their way to take part in the Dubai-Muscat race. | It is not known where the sailors are being held but the FCO did confirm they were on their way to take part in the Dubai-Muscat race. |
| Eid holiday | |
| The British Embassy in Tehran is demanding the immediate release of the five but has so far only had indirect contact with the crew members. | The British Embassy in Tehran is demanding the immediate release of the five but has so far only had indirect contact with the crew members. |
| It is thought the Eid holiday could have delayed proceedings in Iran. | It is thought the Eid holiday could have delayed proceedings in Iran. |
| FCO officials have spoken with Iran's ministry of foreign affairs and the Iranian embassy in the UK, while Mr Miliband has asked for a phone conversation with his opposite number in Tehran. | FCO officials have spoken with Iran's ministry of foreign affairs and the Iranian embassy in the UK, while Mr Miliband has asked for a phone conversation with his opposite number in Tehran. |
| The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall said the FCO had wanted to keep the matter "private" in order to increase the chance of a resolution. | The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall said the FCO had wanted to keep the matter "private" in order to increase the chance of a resolution. |
| But after five days the details emerged and they had no option but to confirm the story. | But after five days the details emerged and they had no option but to confirm the story. |
| Our correspondent said the timing was awkward, coming after the UK condemned Iran's plan to extend its nuclear programme. | Our correspondent said the timing was awkward, coming after the UK condemned Iran's plan to extend its nuclear programme. |
| The government feared Iran might see the detention as an opportunity for "extra leverage" in relation to the nuclear dispute, she added. | The government feared Iran might see the detention as an opportunity for "extra leverage" in relation to the nuclear dispute, she added. |
| Stand-off | Stand-off |
| The 360-nautical mile Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race began on 26 November and ended two days later in the Omani capital's Bandar Al-Rawdah marina. | The 360-nautical mile Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race began on 26 November and ended two days later in the Omani capital's Bandar Al-Rawdah marina. |
| The Kingdom of Bahrain is owned by the Sail Bahrain project, which aims to promote the island as a yachting destination and was recently launched by Team Pindar. | The Kingdom of Bahrain is owned by the Sail Bahrain project, which aims to promote the island as a yachting destination and was recently launched by Team Pindar. |
| Team Pindar is owned by G A Pindar & Son Ltd, a family-owned print and publishing business based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. | Team Pindar is owned by G A Pindar & Son Ltd, a family-owned print and publishing business based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. |
| In a statement, Team Pindar confirmed Kingdom of Bahrain was stopped by Iranian navy vessels, as it headed to the start of the race. | In a statement, Team Pindar confirmed Kingdom of Bahrain was stopped by Iranian navy vessels, as it headed to the start of the race. |
| It added: "The boat may have strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters. The five crew members, all British nationals, are still in Iran." | It added: "The boat may have strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters. The five crew members, all British nationals, are still in Iran." |
| Mr Porter is from Weston-super-mare in Somerset. | Mr Porter is from Weston-super-mare in Somerset. |
| Mr Smith took a degree in Ocean Science and Marine Navigation at the University of Plymouth. | Mr Smith took a degree in Ocean Science and Marine Navigation at the University of Plymouth. |
| He sailed on the university's 1st Team and was later part of a team which came third in the Racing Division of the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers). | He sailed on the university's 1st Team and was later part of a team which came third in the Racing Division of the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers). |
| Navy detained | Navy detained |
| Conrad Humphreys, a professional yachtsman who has competed in three round-the-world races and knows Mr Young and Mr Smith, said: "If they have drifted into the territory, they may have had a problem with the boat. It's a fine line between being on the right side and the wrong side. | Conrad Humphreys, a professional yachtsman who has competed in three round-the-world races and knows Mr Young and Mr Smith, said: "If they have drifted into the territory, they may have had a problem with the boat. It's a fine line between being on the right side and the wrong side. |
| "So if they've made a small navigational error and they've been picked up on it, then it's probably a bit of bad luck and a bit of bad judgement. | "So if they've made a small navigational error and they've been picked up on it, then it's probably a bit of bad luck and a bit of bad judgement. |
| David Bloomer is a Briton who was working as a sports broadcaster | David Bloomer is a Briton who was working as a sports broadcaster |
| "Olly Smith has been running that type of boat for a very, very long time. Olly Young is much, much younger and so probably would be less aware." | "Olly Smith has been running that type of boat for a very, very long time. Olly Young is much, much younger and so probably would be less aware." |
| In March 2007 there was a prolonged stand-off between the UK and Iran after a 15-strong Royal Navy crew was detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. | In March 2007 there was a prolonged stand-off between the UK and Iran after a 15-strong Royal Navy crew was detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. |
| The Iranians accused the crew of straying into its waters, but the British said they were in Iraqi territory. | The Iranians accused the crew of straying into its waters, but the British said they were in Iraqi territory. |
| They were pardoned and released nearly two weeks later by President Ahmadinejad. | They were pardoned and released nearly two weeks later by President Ahmadinejad. |
| In 2004, eight British servicemen were held in Iran after being seized in the Shatt al-Arab waterway, where they were training the Iraqi river patrol service. | In 2004, eight British servicemen were held in Iran after being seized in the Shatt al-Arab waterway, where they were training the Iraqi river patrol service. |
| In both instances, the crews were paraded on television by the Iranian authorities and Bridget Kendall said British diplomats are worried it might happen again in the latest case. | In both instances, the crews were paraded on television by the Iranian authorities and Bridget Kendall said British diplomats are worried it might happen again in the latest case. |
| Do you know any of the yacht crew? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below: | Do you know any of the yacht crew? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below: |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |