British sailors in Iranian custody
Five Britons held after their racing yacht apparently strayed into Iranian waters.
David Miliband, the UK’s foreign minister, said: “FCO [foreign ministry] 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.
“I hope this issue will soon be resolved. We will remain in close touch with the Iranian authorities, as well as the families.”
The AFP news agency identified the crew on Kingdom of Bahrain as: Oliver Smith, Oliver Young, Sam Usher, Luke Porter and David Bloomer, citing informed sources in London.
British media noted the incident echoes the seizure of 15 British sailors by Iran while sailing in disputed waters in March 2007.
They were released after about two weeks, but only after a tense diplomatic standoff between Iran and the UK.
The Dubai-Muscat 360-nautical mile (667km) race, which first took place in 1992, passes through the Gulf into the Indian Ocean, via the Strait of Hormuz, before arriving in Muscat, the capital of Oman.
Relations between Tehran and the West have deteriorated after the Islamic Republic announced on Sunday that it plans to build another 10 uranium enrichment plants.