Tehran: Iran hinted today (June 23, 2004) an eight-man British Royal Navy unit arrested for straying into its territorial waters along the border with Iraq could soon be freed, but only after they were shown on state television blindfolded and then making a public confession.

In a dramatic and humiliating twist to the incident, two officers admitted they had made a "big mistake", insisted it was an accident and apologised to the Islamic republic's Revolutionary Guards.

"My name is Thomas Hawkins from the British Royal Navy, number D04428," said the first officer, who appeared to be reading from a prepared text.

"Our team of three boats and eight crew entered Iranian waters by mistake. We apologise because this was a big mistake," he said, according to a translation of the Arabic voice-over provided by Al-Alam, Iran's official Arabic-language satellite news channel.

The second officer, clearly reading from a prepared text and also standing on the banks of the Shatt al-Arab waterway, introduced himself as "Chief Petty Officer Robert Webster of the Royal Navy, number D987567 Alpha."

He said the team had "accidentally entered Iranian waters" when they were arrested yesterday. Prior to the confessions, state television had shown the men being held blindfolded in a cramped room.

But the signs were that their ordeal could soon be over.