Iran talks tough over seized UK sailors
Source: Agencies |
December 2, 2009, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TEHRAN warned yesterday it will take strong action against five detained British sailors if it is proven they had "bad intentions" when their racing yacht entered Iran's Persian Gulf waters and was seized.
The detention could heighten tensions between Iran and major world powers, including Britain, that are demanding a halt to Tehran's controversial nuclear program.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said "there is certainly no question of any malicious intent on the part of these five young people."
Britain says the yacht, Kingdom of Bahrain, drifted into Iranian waters while en route to a race off Dubai when Iranian forces stopped it.
But the head of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's office said Iran will prosecute the Britons if they intended to "violate the national security" of Iran.
"Naturally if bad intentions on the part of these individuals are proven, there will be a serious and strong attitude toward them," Esfandiar Rahim Mashai said.
The detention could heighten tensions between Iran and major world powers, including Britain, that are demanding a halt to Tehran's controversial nuclear program.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said "there is certainly no question of any malicious intent on the part of these five young people."
Britain says the yacht, Kingdom of Bahrain, drifted into Iranian waters while en route to a race off Dubai when Iranian forces stopped it.
But the head of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's office said Iran will prosecute the Britons if they intended to "violate the national security" of Iran.
"Naturally if bad intentions on the part of these individuals are proven, there will be a serious and strong attitude toward them," Esfandiar Rahim Mashai said.
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