Iran claims all British hostages have confessed

April 2, 2007

Tehran - Iran Monday showed no sign of bowing to diplomatic pressure to release 15 British sailors and Marines detained for over a week, saying all the captives have confessed to illegally entering Iranian waters.

Iran Monday showed no sign of bowing to diplomatic pressure to release 15 British sailors and Marines detained for over a week, saying all the captives have confessed to illegally entering Iranian waters.

Iran's state-run IRIB network reported Monday that all 15 confessed on video, but "due to certain changes in the last two days in the sensational British policies, the detailed interviews will not be aired."

On Sunday, Iran's government-run networks aired video of two of the detainees admitting to trespassing in Iranian waters on March 23rd.

Two other British sailors appeared in similar videos last week, prompting outrage in London. The British Foreign Office called it unacceptable for such pictures to be aired and speaking last week, Prime Minister Tony Blair accused Iran of parading and manipulating the detainees.

Britain and Iraq say the sailors and marines were well inside Iraqi waters when they were seized by the Iranians.