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| Miliband presses Iran on sailors | Miliband presses Iran on sailors |
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| Foreign Secretary David Miliband has spoken to the Iranian foreign minister about five British yachtsmen detained after being seized by the Iranian navy. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband has spoken to the Iranian foreign minister about five British yachtsmen detained after being seized by the Iranian navy. |
| The Foreign Office (FCO) said he had pressed Manouchehr Mottaki for details of what happened and for a statement on what they intended to do with the men. | The Foreign Office (FCO) said he had pressed Manouchehr Mottaki for details of what happened and for a statement on what they intended to do with the men. |
| Earlier the FCO said Iran's failure to explain why the crew were seized almost a week ago was of "increasing concern". | Earlier the FCO said Iran's failure to explain why the crew were seized almost a week ago was of "increasing concern". |
| The crew may have inadvertently strayed into Iranian waters heading to a race. | The crew may have inadvertently strayed into Iranian waters heading to a race. |
| The FCO added Mr Miliband had "reiterated our demand for formal consular access to the men, and his hope that this issue be brought to a speedy conclusion and the release of all five". | The FCO added Mr Miliband had "reiterated our demand for formal consular access to the men, and his hope that this issue be brought to a speedy conclusion and the release of all five". |
| Their statement said Mr Mottaki had pledged to get the foreign secretary a response on all the points raised. | Their statement said Mr Mottaki had pledged to get the foreign secretary a response on all the points raised. |
| 'Evil intentions' | 'Evil intentions' |
| Following an earlier diplomatic meeting in London with Iran's ambassador, the FCO had called for clarity on Iranian intentions. | Following an earlier diplomatic meeting in London with Iran's ambassador, the FCO had called for clarity on Iranian intentions. |
| Permanent under secretary Peter Ricketts said since it was almost a week since the yachtsmen were seized, "the delay in providing a full explanation of what had happened and clarity on Iranian intentions were a matter of increasing concern". | Permanent under secretary Peter Ricketts said since it was almost a week since the yachtsmen were seized, "the delay in providing a full explanation of what had happened and clarity on Iranian intentions were a matter of increasing concern". |
| The families of the captured Britons will meet Foreign Office officials on Wednesday. | The families of the captured Britons will meet Foreign Office officials on Wednesday. |
| The five are being detained after the Iranian navy stopped their Volvo 60 yacht in the Gulf on 25 November. | The five are being detained after the Iranian navy stopped their Volvo 60 yacht in the Gulf on 25 November. |
| The Team Pindar-backed yacht was sailing from Bahrain to Dubai to take part in the Dubai-Muscat Offshore Race. | The Team Pindar-backed yacht was sailing from Bahrain to Dubai to take part in the Dubai-Muscat Offshore Race. |
| ANALYSIS 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 Profile of seized British sailors Analysis: Bridget Kendall | ANALYSIS 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 Profile of seized British sailors Analysis: Bridget Kendall |
| 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 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. | 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. |
| Earlier, an Iranian official said "serious" measures would be taken against the crew if it is proved they had "evil intentions". | Earlier, an Iranian official said "serious" measures would be taken against the crew if it is proved they had "evil intentions". |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the five men could be released within days if Iran accepts they are innocent yachtsmen but the diplomatic situation could get "very complicated" if it were to put them on trial. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the five men could be released within days if Iran accepts they are innocent yachtsmen but the diplomatic situation could get "very complicated" if it were to put them on trial. |
| 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." |
| Dubai-Muscat Offshore Race organisers said the crew of the Kingdom of Bahrain yacht may have been "drifting" after experiencing propeller problems. | Dubai-Muscat Offshore Race organisers said the crew of the Kingdom of Bahrain yacht may have been "drifting" after experiencing propeller problems. |
| 'Fanatical yachtsman' | 'Fanatical yachtsman' |
| 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". | 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." |
| Andrew Pindar, chairman of Sail Bahrain and owner of the boat, described the crew as "a close-knit group" with "extensive experience". | Andrew Pindar, chairman of Sail Bahrain and owner of the boat, described the crew as "a close-knit group" with "extensive experience". |
| Mr Pindar added: "Olly Smith, who was skippering the crew during the delivery, has been involved with the team for many years and has over 100,000 sailing miles under his belt." | Mr Pindar added: "Olly Smith, who was skippering the crew during the delivery, has been involved with the team for many years and has over 100,000 sailing miles under his belt." |
| He also said that "through the limited contact" he has had with the crew, he could confirm that they were in good spirits were being well treated. | He also said that "through the limited contact" he has had with the crew, he could confirm that they were in good spirits were being well treated. |
| 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". | 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". |
| Luke Porter's parents say they have 'grave concerns' for his welfare | Luke Porter's parents say they have 'grave concerns' for his welfare |
| But Charles Porter, of Weston-super-Mare, who is the father of 21-year-old Luke, said he and his wife Beverley were concerned. | But 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." |
| The fiancee of Sam Usher, 26, Nicola Drayton, said: "It's difficult but you just get on, you have no choice." | The fiancee of Sam Usher, 26, Nicola Drayton, 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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 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. | 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. |
| It is not the first time British sailors have been detained after being accused of straying into Iranian waters. | It is not the first time British sailors have been detained after being accused of straying into Iranian waters. |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| IRAN'S MARITIME CLAIMS In 1993 Iran informed the UN of its claims over a territorial sea, a contiguous zone and an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) extending to the continental shelf. Territorial sea: Iran claims sovereignty over a belt of sea, measured 12 nautical miles from its baseline. This extends to the air space above it as well as to its bed and subsoilContiguous zone: An area adjacent to the territorial sea with an outer limit of 24 nautical miles from the baseline. The Iranian government claims the right to take steps to prevent the infringement of laws and regulationsEEZ and the continental shelf boundary: Within the EEZ, which extends out to the continental shelf line, Iran claims exclusive rights to all natural resources, research and the building of structures. Source: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, US Department of State | IRAN'S MARITIME CLAIMS In 1993 Iran informed the UN of its claims over a territorial sea, a contiguous zone and an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) extending to the continental shelf. Territorial sea: Iran claims sovereignty over a belt of sea, measured 12 nautical miles from its baseline. This extends to the air space above it as well as to its bed and subsoilContiguous zone: An area adjacent to the territorial sea with an outer limit of 24 nautical miles from the baseline. The Iranian government claims the right to take steps to prevent the infringement of laws and regulationsEEZ and the continental shelf boundary: Within the EEZ, which extends out to the continental shelf line, Iran claims exclusive rights to all natural resources, research and the building of structures. Source: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, US Department of State |