We wondered why the British captives confessed so quickly. Now we know and it is what we suspected. Ahmandinejad and the Mad Mullahs of Iran are evil people.

Two of the freed captives shared the reading of a prepared statement at Royal Marines Base at Chivenor, north Devon, where they revealed the first details of their time as hostages.

Lieutenant Felix Carman confirmed the sailors were in Iraqi waters when they were detained by Iran. “We were 1.7 nautical miles from Iranian waters,” he said.

The sailors and marines said they were bound, blindfolded and lined up against a wall while weapons were cocked, making them “fear the worst”.

Apparently responding to criticisms that the sailors and marines surrendered too easily to the Iranians and were too eager to cooperate with their captors, they said that “fighting back was simply not an option”.

“We were aware that many people have questioned why we allowed ourselves to be taken in the first place. From the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was not an option. Had we done that many of us would not be standing here today.

“There would have been a major fight, which we could not have won, and the consequences would have had a major strategic impact. We made a conscious decision not to engage the Iranians.”

The 15 personnel captured by Iran were blindfolded, bound and subjected to “constant psychological pressure”, they said today at a press conference.

They were told if they did not admit they had strayed into Iranian waters they faced seven years in prison. They said they were bound, blindfolded and lined up against a wall while weapons were cocked making them “fear the worst”.

When asked about Faye Turney, who was not at the press conference, the sailors said: “Being an Islamic country Faye was subjected to different rules than we were. She was separated from us as soon as we arrived and isolated. She was told shortly afterwards that we had all been returned home and was under the impression for four days that she was the only one there. Clearly she was subjected to a lot of stress. She coped admirably and maintained a lot of dignity.”

The sailors criticised the propoganda used by Iran. Joe Tindell said: “Obviously we’re not pleased about it. As far as I’m concerned the whole thing was a complete media stunt.”

Lieutenant Carman added that they were kept in solitary confinement for a period before being allowed out in the evenings for a couple of hours to play chess and socialise. “But that was in the full glare of the Iranian media. It was very much a setup, very much a stunt for Iranian propaganda.”

In response Iranian state TV is currently reporting that the crew’s comments were “dictated” by the British Ministry of Defence, Sky News has reported.

The youngest sailor among the 15, Arthur Batchelor, 20, admitted there were points when he was afraid for his life but “like I said I believed this day would come.”

The 15 began their statement by sending their condolences to the families of the four British service personnel and civilian interpreter killed in Iraq yesterday.

They also thanked the staff of the British Embassy in Tehran and the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence for all their work in securing their release.

Lieutenant Carman told how they were taken by the Iranians, on Friday March 23.

He stressed the sailors and marines were on a routine operation when they boarded a merchant vessel in an area south of the Shatt Al Arab waterway.

“I can clearly state we were 1.7 nautical miles from Iranian waters.”

Royal Marine Captain Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham, Cheshire, said they saw two speedboats approaching rapidly about 400 metres away.

“I ordered everyone to make their weapons ready and ordered the boarding party to return to the boats.

“By the time all were back on board, two Iranian boats had come alongside.

“One officer spoke good English and I explained that we were conducting a routine operation, as allowed under a UN mandate.

“But when we tried to leave, they prevented us by blocking us in.

“By now it was becoming increasingly clear that they had arrived with a planned intent.

“Some of the Iranian sailors were becoming deliberately aggressive and unstable. They rammed our boat and trained their heavy machine guns, RPGs and weapons on us.

“Another six boats were closing in on us. We realised that our efforts to reason with these people were not making any headway. Nor were we able to calm some of the individuals down. It was at this point that we realised that had we resisted there would have been a major fight, one we could not have won, with consequences that would have had major strategic impact.”

Marine Joe Tindall revealed how the treatment of the sailors deteriorated within hours of their capture.

He said: “I can’t say i was treated well - for the first 24 hours, yes, but between then and the president’s speech, I wouldn’t say we were treated well.”

When asked whether the captives were able to communicate with Iranian guards, he said: “We never saw them for the first six days because whenever they opened the doors we were handed blindfolds.”

As for the confessions, he said in his opinion they were not confessions. “It was more like, according to this GPS map we’ve been given, then apparently we were in Iranian waters - and if that was the case we apologise.”

They used no code words during their “confessions”.

He revealed that often the hostages would hear the cocking of guns at their heads. “That was the one time in my life I’ve been scared s*******, basically.”

His relieved father, John, was asked what his son’s first words to his family were.

“I think I’m having more trouble coming to terms with some it than he is … within about eight minutes of talking to him I was a jibbering wreck after being relatively normal for two weeks.

“I’m just glad that the truth is coming out.”

Thankfully they are all home and safe now, but it will probably take some time for them to get over the psychological stresses they experienced while captives.

The 15 British sailors and Marines have returned to London, wearing better-fitting and looking clothes than what they had on when they left Tehran.

Now that they are back, a few questions will be floated. For instance, why didn’t their main ship come to their aid when the Iranians were seen anywhere near them instead of letting them be captured?

Why did they so quickly admit they were in Iranian waters and allow themselves to be used for propaganda purposes in Iran?

I don’t know the answers to these questions and will wait to see what they have to say about their captivity before I pass judgment, if I pass judgment on them at all. I don’t know what I would have done in their situation.

I’d also like to know what kind of parting gifts they received from Ahmadinejad when they left. Some expensive Persian rugs, perhaps?

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has announced the British sailors and Marines kidnapped by Iran have been pardoned and will go free.

This is wonderful news for the captives, their families and Great Britain.

TEHRAN, Iran — Fifteen British sailors and marines seized by Iranian naval personnel have been pardoned and will be freed, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said at a press conference Wednesday, but he vowed his country would not tolerate invasions of its borders by any country.

“I announce that the great people of Iran and the Islamic Republic, even having legal rights to try these military people, in honor of the prophet’s birthday, will be freed as a gift to the people of the United Kingdom,” Ahmadinejad said in a speech to reporters, clerics and civil servants in a small hall in Tehran.

In response to a reporter’s question, Ahmadinejad said the British troops would be freed at the end of the press conference.

Prime Minister Tony Blair’s office said it “welcomes” the news that troops would be freed.

Then he interrupted the news conference to pin medals on the captors.