LONDON: Iran has confirmed the release of five British yachtsmen seized in the Gulf last week, the Foreign Office said Wednesday, adding it understood their racing boat is being towed to international waters,

‘The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have confirmed that the five yachtsmen have been released,’ said a Foreign Office spokesman, shortly after Iranian media reported their release.

‘We understand that they are being towed to international waters and will be met by a representative from the sailing company,’ he added.

The Britons’ yacht, Kingdom of Bahrain, apparently drifted into Iranian waters last Wednesday while they were en route from Bahrain to Dubai for the start of a race.

The group — four young yachtsman and an older sports journalist, were believed to have been held on Sirri Island, a small island in the Gulf off the coast of Iran near where they had been sailing.

The sailors’ boss has said the boat may have drifted into Iranian waters due to a damaged propeller.

On Tuesday Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s chief of staff Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie warned they would be dealt with ‘firmly’ if found guilty of illegal entry into Iranian waters.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband spoke with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki on Tuesday to press for the release of the five — Oliver Smith, Oliver Young, Sam Usher, Luke Porter and journalist David Bloomer, a dual Irish-British national.

Porter’s parents Beverly and Charles voiced relief.

‘It was just a pure misunderstanding. It appears now that they had technical problems with the boat. The boys never meant to be there in the first place. Thankfully, Iran have seen it that way,’ said his mother.

His father was asked to describe his emotions over the last few days: ‘A rollercoaster would be the right word.’