(7 Apr 2007) HEADLINE: Iran dismisses naval crews account as propaganda
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CAPTION: Iran says British officials have coerced the 15 marines and sailors recently released into lying about what they endured as captives in Iran. (April 7)
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The diplomatic row between Iran and the U-K is continuing days after Tehran released 15 British sailors and marines.
Iran is now dismissing the accounts given by the service members over what they endured while in Iranian custody.
Friday, some of the sailors and marines appeared before the press to detail how they were captured and what they went through.
LT. Felix Carmen, British Royal Navy
"we were blindfolded, our hands were bound we were forced up against a wall. Throughout our ordeal we faced constant psychological pressure. Later we were stripped and dressed in pajamas. The next few nights were spent in stone cells, sleeping on piles of blankets, all of us were kept in isolation."
Those words, were broadcast in Iran as well and it wasn't long before the country issued a response to those comments.
(pause for nat sound)
The country's foreign ministry office says the statement are clear propaganda and adds that London pressured the service members into untrue remarks.
The claim is similar to the ones British officials made when the same service member appeared on iranian T-V admitting they trespassed into the country's waters.
Meanwhile, more details are emerging about the international effort to settle the dispute.
The Vatican now says Pope Benedict sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader pressing for the release of the service members.
Vatican officials, though, aren't saying exactly what the Pope wrote or even when the letter was sent.
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