Sailors 'faced 7 years in jail'
06/04/2007 16:52  - (SA)  

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London - The 15 British sailors held by Iran were kept blindfolded, bound and in isolation by their captors who threatened them with seven years in jail, they told a news conference on Friday.

"From the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was not an option," Captain Chris Air told reporters.

"We were blindfolded at all times and kept in isolation from each other," Lieutenant Felix Carman said.

In an agreed statement, the military personnel said they were told that if they did not admit they had strayed into Iranian waters, they faced seven years in prison.

"We were interrogated most nights and given two options. If we admitted that we had strayed, we would be back on a plane to the UK pretty soon.

If we didn't, we faced up to seven years in prison," they said in their statement

Forced up against wall

After their arrest in the Gulf, the sailors and marines were taken to a prison in Tehran.

"We were blindfolded, our hands were bound, we were forced up against a wall," the statement said.

They insisted they had been arrested in Iraqi waters and said that in captivity they suffered "constant psychological pressure".

The 15 sailors and marines were released in Tehran on Thursday after a tense 13-day stand off with Iran and flown back to England to an emotional reunion with their families.

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