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Iran issues warning over UK crew Iran issues warning over UK crew
(40 minutes later)
An Iranian official has reportedly said "serious" measures will be taken against a UK yacht crew it if is proved they had "evil intentions". An Iranian official has said "serious" measures will be taken against a UK yacht crew it if is proved they had "evil intentions".
The five Britons are being detained by the Iranian navy after their Volvo 60 yacht was stopped on 25 November. The five Britons are being detained by the Iranian navy after the Volvo 60 yacht was stopped on 25 November.
The Foreign Office said Luke Porter, Oliver Smith, David Bloomer, Oliver Young and Sam Usher may have "strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters".The Foreign Office said Luke Porter, Oliver Smith, David Bloomer, Oliver Young and Sam Usher may have "strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters".
The Team Pindar-backed yacht was sailing from Bahrain to Dubai.The Team Pindar-backed yacht was sailing from Bahrain to Dubai.
According to the Reuters news agency, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaie, President Ahmadinejad'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." Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaie, President Ahmadinejad's head of staff, told Iran's Fars news agency: "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. Profile: Iran's Revolutionary Guards Analysis: Bridget Kendall Detained UK yacht crew - reactionANALYSIS 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. Profile: Iran's Revolutionary Guards Analysis: Bridget Kendall 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".
Mr Miliband 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 nuclear enrichment programmes... it has no relationship to any of the other, bigger issues."Mr Miliband 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 nuclear enrichment programmes... it has no relationship to any of the other, bigger issues."
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: "They were going about their sport and it seems they may have strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters."
Earlier he said: "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." The Foreign Office says it believes the five sailors are being held on the island of Sirri. It said it was seeking confirmation of this from the Iranian authorities. The sailors are understood to be safe and well.
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 of the Kingdom of Bahrain yacht, 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 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, said his 21-year-old son, Oliver, was a "fanatical yachtsman" with a great deal of experience and that he was certain his son would be able to "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. But Charles Porter, of Weston-super-Mare, who is the father of 21-year-old Luke, said he and his wife Beverley were concerned.
"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 his son is 'in good spirits'Oliver Young's father says his 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 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.
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. The fiancee of Sam Usher, 26, Nicola Drayton, 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." Of the remaining two captives, Mr Smith, 31, is an engineer from Southampton and his teammate Mr Bloomer is said to work as a sports broadcaster in Bahrain.
She added that Mr Usher was the owner of Wykeham Watersports, a sailing academy on the Dawnay Estate, near Scarborough. The FCO said the men had been on their way to take part in the Dubai-Muscat race.
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.
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.
YACHT CREW Oliver Smith, 31, an engineer from Southampton, yacht's skipperOliver Young, 21, professional yachtsman from PlymouthLuke Porter, 21, professional sailor from Weston-Super-MareDavid Bloomer, radio presenter based in BahrainSam Usher, 26, owns sailing academy in Scarborough
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.
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 yacht 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.
Mr Porter is from Weston-super-mare in Somerset. It is not the first time British sailors have been detained after being accused of straying into Iranian waters.
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).
David Bloomer is a Briton who was working as a sports broadcaster
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. And 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.
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 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.
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