Tehran, Dec 2 (IANS) Iran has released five British sailors who were detained Nov 25 after apparently straying into Iranian waters, British and Iranian officials said Wednesday.
The sailors were detained in the vicinity of Siri Island off Iranian coast, Iran’s Mehr news agency reported.

“Five Britons who had been detained near Siri Island after the illegal entry of their boat were released,” the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) public relations office at Siri Island said in a statement.

After some investigations and interrogation of the five people it became clear that they had entered Iranian waters by mistake, it said.

The British Foreign Office has confirmed the release of yachtsmen, Xinhua reported.

“The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have confirmed that the five yachtsmen have been released. We understand that they are being towed to international waters and will be met by a representative from the sailing company,” it said in a statement Wednesday.