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| Navy crew start two weeks' leave | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Royal Navy crew released by Iran are starting two weeks' compassionate leave with their families. | The Royal Navy crew released by Iran are starting two weeks' compassionate leave with their families. |
| The 15 sailors and marines told a press conference that they were blindfolded, bound and held in isolation during their 13 days in captivity. | The 15 sailors and marines told a press conference that they were blindfolded, bound and held in isolation during their 13 days in captivity. |
| Iran dismissed the event as "theatrical propaganda", which could not justify their "mistake". | Iran dismissed the event as "theatrical propaganda", which could not justify their "mistake". |
| And the country's ambassador to London told the Financial Times that Britain should respond "in a positive way". | And the country's ambassador to London told the Financial Times that Britain should respond "in a positive way". |
| 'Defuse tensions' | 'Defuse tensions' |
| In an interview with the newspaper, Rasoul Movahedian indicated that Tehran wants Britain's help in releasing five Iranians being held in Iraq and on easing international fears about its controversial nuclear programme. | In an interview with the newspaper, Rasoul Movahedian indicated that Tehran wants Britain's help in releasing five Iranians being held in Iraq and on easing international fears about its controversial nuclear programme. |
| "We played our part and we showed our good will... now it is up to the British government to proceed in a positive way." | "We played our part and we showed our good will... now it is up to the British government to proceed in a positive way." |
| He denied that the release of the crew was linked to the case of the Iranians being detained in Iraq or any other case. | He denied that the release of the crew was linked to the case of the Iranians being detained in Iraq or any other case. |
| But he added: "If they [the British] want to be helpful and use their influence we will welcome that. | But he added: "If they [the British] want to be helpful and use their influence we will welcome that. |
| 'New opportunities' | |
| "We will welcome in general any steps that could defuse tensions in the region." | "We will welcome in general any steps that could defuse tensions in the region." |
| The BBC's Jill McGivering told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The key in all of this is how the US feels. | |
| "It is all very well talking about a plea for the UK to use its influence on the US but so far there are no signs from Washington at all that they give Iran any kind of credit for the way they have handled this." | |
| She added that the US has not indicated that it sees any "new opportunities" to deal with Iran because the crisis has been resolved. | |
| 'Seven years in prison' | 'Seven years in prison' |
| Meanwhile, The Guardian reported that the United States offered to mount aggressive air patrols over Iranian Revolutionary Guard bases during the stand-off but was dissuaded by London. | Meanwhile, The Guardian reported that the United States offered to mount aggressive air patrols over Iranian Revolutionary Guard bases during the stand-off but was dissuaded by London. |
| Citing unnamed diplomatic sources, the newspaper said that Pentagon officials offered a series of military options, but Britain told them to keep out of the affair and instead tone down armed forces activity in the Gulf. | Citing unnamed diplomatic sources, the newspaper said that Pentagon officials offered a series of military options, but Britain told them to keep out of the affair and instead tone down armed forces activity in the Gulf. |
| At a press conference on Friday, the crew said they were told by their captors that if they did not admit they were in Iranian waters when captured they faced seven years in prison. | At a press conference on Friday, the crew said they were told by their captors that if they did not admit they were in Iranian waters when captured they faced seven years in prison. |
| Let me be absolutely clear, from the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was simply not an option Royal Marine Captain Chris Air Captives: Key quotes | Let me be absolutely clear, from the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was simply not an option Royal Marine Captain Chris Air Captives: Key quotes |
| Royal Marine Captain Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham, Cheshire, said they had seconds to make a decision when confronted by the Iranians while carrying out a routine operation. | Royal Marine Captain Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham, Cheshire, said they had seconds to make a decision when confronted by the Iranians while carrying out a routine operation. |
| "We are aware that many people have questioned why we allowed ourselves to be taken in the first place and why we allowed ourselves to be shown by the Iranian authorities on television. | "We are aware that many people have questioned why we allowed ourselves to be taken in the first place and why we allowed ourselves to be shown by the Iranian authorities on television. |
| "Let me be absolutely clear, from the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was simply not an option." | "Let me be absolutely clear, from the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was simply not an option." |
| He added: "Fighting back would have caused a major international incident and an escalation of tension within the region." | He added: "Fighting back would have caused a major international incident and an escalation of tension within the region." |
| Iraqi waters | Iraqi waters |
| Two of the crew read out a prepared statement to the press conference at the Royal Marines Barracks at Chivenor, in north Devon. | Two of the crew read out a prepared statement to the press conference at the Royal Marines Barracks at Chivenor, in north Devon. |
| The officer in charge, Lieutenant Felix Carman, 26, of Swansea in south Wales, said the sailors and marines were on an operation on 23 March, 1.7 nautical miles from Iranian waters, when they were captured. | |
| Cpt Chris Air said the crew had made it clear they were on a "routine operation allowed under a UN mandate" but the Iranians had a "planned intent." | Cpt Chris Air said the crew had made it clear they were on a "routine operation allowed under a UN mandate" but the Iranians had a "planned intent." |
| Someone said, I quote 'lads, lads I think we're going to get executed' Royal Marine Joe Tindell | Someone said, I quote 'lads, lads I think we're going to get executed' Royal Marine Joe Tindell |
| "Some of the Iranian sailors were becoming deliberately aggressive and unstable." | "Some of the Iranian sailors were becoming deliberately aggressive and unstable." |
| Their boat was surrounded by six vessels and rammed and they were trained with heavy machine guns and weapons. | Their boat was surrounded by six vessels and rammed and they were trained with heavy machine guns and weapons. |
| Lt Carman, said they were taken to a prison in Tehran where they were stripped and dressed in pyjamas. | Lt Carman, said they were taken to a prison in Tehran where they were stripped and dressed in pyjamas. |
| They were kept in stone cells, sleeping on blankets and held in isolation until the last few nights and frequently interrogated. | They were kept in stone cells, sleeping on blankets and held in isolation until the last few nights and frequently interrogated. |
| Navy review | |
| The only woman in the group, Leading Seaman Faye Turney, believed for at least four days that she was the only one still being held. | The only woman in the group, Leading Seaman Faye Turney, believed for at least four days that she was the only one still being held. |
| "Like all of us she has been exploited," Cpt Air said. | "Like all of us she has been exploited," Cpt Air said. |
| Royal Marine Joe Tindell told how they feared for their lives in prison. | Royal Marine Joe Tindell told how they feared for their lives in prison. |
| "We had a blindfold and plastic cuffs, hands behind our backs, heads against the wall. Basically there were weapons cocking. Someone, I'm not sure who, someone said, I quote 'lads, lads I think we're going to get executed'." | "We had a blindfold and plastic cuffs, hands behind our backs, heads against the wall. Basically there were weapons cocking. Someone, I'm not sure who, someone said, I quote 'lads, lads I think we're going to get executed'." |
| "After that comment someone was sick and as far as I was concerned he had just had his throat cut." | "After that comment someone was sick and as far as I was concerned he had just had his throat cut." |
| Lt Carman said they only learned they were going to be released when they watched the Iranian president on TV. | Lt Carman said they only learned they were going to be released when they watched the Iranian president on TV. |
| The navy is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident and the wider rules of engagement for UK forces operating in the area. | The navy is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident and the wider rules of engagement for UK forces operating in the area. |