Iran frees 5 British yachtsmen, Miliband thanks Iran

TEHRAN, Dec. 2 (MNA) - Iran has released five British yachtsmen who had been detained after they illegally entered Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf.


The sailors were detained on November 25 in the vicinity of Siri Island in the Persian Gulf.


“Five Britons, who had been detained near Siri Island after the illegal entry of their boat, have been released,” the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) public relations office in the Siri Island said in a statement.


After an investigation and the interrogation of the five people, it became clear that they entered Iranian waters by mistake, the statement explained.


“After getting necessary commitments it was decided to release them,” it added.


On Wednesday, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband hailed the “professional” way in which Iran dealt with London over the release of five British yachtsmen seized in the Persian Gulf.


Miliband said he did not believe there was any “wider significance” from the swift resolution of the dispute, at a time when Iran is locked in a stand-off with the West over its nuclear programs, AFP reported.


“I welcome the fact that this has been dealt with in a professional and straightforward way by the Iranian authorities,” he said, reiterating that the case was entirely a consular matter.


“I think this is just a straightforward matter, it’s not a political matter, I don’t believe there is any wider significance, but it shows that diplomacy can work,” Miliband said.


Miliband added: “As far as we know, the young men have been treated perfectly well.


“Obviously this has been an ordeal for the young men and their families and I’m delighted it’s over for them and that we can call the matter closed.”