'No argument' with Iran over detained sailors (From This is Hampshire)

'No argument' with Iran over detained sailors

8:42am Tuesday 1st December 2009 in

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Foreign Secretary David Miliband said today that there was ''no confrontation or argument'' in negotiations with Iran to free five detained British sailors.

Their racing yacht, the Kingdom Of Bahrain, owned by Sail Bahrain, was stopped by Iranian naval vessels last Wednesday as it sailed from Bahrain to Dubai.

The crew members have been named as Southampton sailor Oliver Young, 31, Bahrain-based radio presenter David Bloomer, Olly Smith, 21, from Plymouth, Sam Usher, and Luke Porter, 21.

Mr Miliband, speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, said the incident was a consular matter and not linked to Royal Navy personnel.

''These are five civilians. They are yachtsmen. They were going about their sport,'' he said.

''It seems they may have strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters. We look forward to the Iranian government dealing with this promptly.''

He said he was awaiting a statement from the Iranian government on the matter but stressed there was no dispute.

''There's certainly no confrontation or argument,'' he said. ''As far as we are aware, these people are being well-treated, which is right and what we would expect from a country like Iran.''

He said ''perfectly good discussions'' had taken place between officials in London and Tehran.

Mr Miliband later stressed the detention of five British sailors had ''nothing to do with politics'' and efforts were being made to secure their ''speedy'' release.

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He added there was no suggestion that the crew had aggressive intentions.

''This is a human story of five young yachtsmen,'' he said. ''It's got nothing to do with politics. It's got nothing to do with (Iran's) nuclear enrichment programme.

''It's a consular case, which is being treated as a consular case by the UK, and I'm sure will be treated as a consular case by the Iranian authorities.

''It has no relation to any other issue. On that basis, I hope it will be resolved in a speedy and professional manner.''