Britain says "no link" with politics in Iran capture (Roundup)

Dec 1, 2009, 17:00 GMT

   Tehran/London - The detention of five British yachtsmen by the Iranian navy has 'no link with politics or the Iranian nuclear file,' Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Tuesday.

   Meanwhile, Iran's ambassador to London, Rasoul Movahedian, was summoned to the Foreign Office for talks to clarify where the Britons were being held and how their 'speedy release' could be obtained, a spokesman said.

   Iran earlier Tuesday confirmed the arrest of five British citizens after their racing yacht was stopped by the Iranian navy last Wednesday en route from Bahrain to Dubai.

   Iran's presidential chief of staff, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei, told the Fars news agency that the Britons had entered Iran illegally.

   He added that, if it was proven that they entered Iran with ill intentions, such as spying, then they would face serious and harsh legal actions.

   Earlier Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast refused to comment on the arrest.

   'Whether the arrest has been made or not ... are currently under investigation and will be announced in due time,' Mehmanparast said.

   The British Foreign Office in London broke news of the arrest for the first time late Monday and said the families of the five had been informed that they were safe and well.

   It said the yacht Kingdom of Bahrain, which is owned by Sail Bahrain, might have strayed 'inadvertently' into Iranian waters and was stopped by Iranian naval vessels on November 25.

   As efforts to free the men continued, Miliband told parliament in London Tuesday that their detention had 'no link' with politics.

'There's no link at all between the position of the yachtsmen and the Iranian nuclear file or other political issues that exist between Iran and the international political community,' said Miliband.

'We very much look forward to the yachtsmen being released on a consular basis.' There was 'certainly no suggestion of any malicious intent on the part of the five young people,' he said.

Britain's contacts with the Iranian authorities had been dealt with in an 'appropriate and professional way.'

Miliband stressed that it was important to remember that the sailors were civilians and not members of Britain's armed forces.

There was 'no confrontation, no argument' withe the Iranian authorities.

Unconfirmed reports have said the propeller on the Britons' yacht had broken and the men were waiting for help.