Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday he would free 15 British sailors and marines as a "gift" to Britain. The president scolded Britain for not being "brave enough" to admit they had made a mistake and strayed into Iranian waters.
In a surprise announcement at the end of a lengthy news conference, Ahmadinejad said he was willing to make a "gift" to Britain, but he also awarded medals to the naval commanders who captured the 15 in the northern Gulf on March 23.
He said the captives would be released immediately after the news conference as a "gift to the British people". Oil prices fell more than 50 cents after the announcement. Britain had no immediate comment.
The Iranian president said he was "saddened" by Britain's violation of its borders and goaded Britain by saying it should be brave and admit that it had made a mistake. "They are free after this meeting and can go back to their families," Ahmadinejad told a news conference broadcast live to many countries. Britain maintains the sailors and marines were operating in Iraq territorial waters when they were seized.