Freed 15 Deals Spur Outrage

Brit sailors say they were threatened, psychologically tortured

(NEWSER) - Britain's freed sailors say they were blindfolded, psychologically tortured, and isolated from each other during their captivity in Iran. They were lined up while weapons were cocked, and told that if they did not say they were in Iranian waters when they were caught, they would face seven years in prison, the BBC reports. More»

Co-operation called, "Bloody Shambles"

(NEWSER) - As the euphoria over the homecoming of the 15 British captives subsides, some Britons are charging that the sailors and marines went overboard in co-operating with their captors. Lt. Gen. Sir Michael Gray tells London’s Daily Mail: "In my days you would have got name, rank and serial number and that would be your lot." He called the saiilors' behavior a "bloody shambles.” More»

Public outcry leads to ban on further embarrassing interviews

(NEWSER) - The British Ministry of Defense bowed to public opinion last night and banned further media deals for the sailors and marines released from captivity in Iran. The decision to let the detainees sell their stories had "not reached a satisfactory outcome," the defense secretary said. More»

Iranian prisoner in Iraq was freed before British sailors were

(NEWSER) - Officials deny that concessions were made to Iran for the release of the captured British sailors, but the Times speculates that there may have been a secret deal. An Iranian diplomat held in Iraq for eight weeks was freed the day before the British prisoners were. Also, American officials said yesterday that they would review a request that an envoy be allowed to visit five Iranians imprisoned after a raid in Iraq. More»

(NEWSER) - The fifteen British sailors captured by Iran are back in the UK. As soon as the British Airways jet touched down as Heathrow, Blair traded his measured diplomatic tone for harsher words, warning the "elements of the Iranian regime" were still arming insurgents inside Iraq." More»