British yacht crew of five detained in Iran

Five Britons have been detained in Iran after their racing yacht may have inadvertently strayed into Iranian waters, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on Monday.

The yacht, en route from Bahrain to Dubai, was stopped by Iranian naval vessels on Nov. 25, he said in a statement.

The five crew members are still in Iran and are understood to be safe and well and their families have been informed, the statement added.

Foreign Office officials "immediately contacted the Iranian authorities in London and in Tehran on the evening of 25 November, both to seek clarification and to try and resolve the matter swiftly," Miliband said.

"Our ambassador in Tehran has raised the issue with the Iranian Foreign Ministry and we have discussed the matter with the Iranian Embassy in London.

"I hope this issue will soon be resolved. We will remain in close touch with the Iranian authorities, as well as the families," he said.