Five of Iran's officials held by the US in Iraq have complained about their treatment in detention, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said today.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proposed holding talks with US President George Bush in a surprise suggestion.

Iran hit back at claims by the captured British Navy crew of constant psychological pressure during their 13 days of detention by releasing more video clips showing them playing chess and watching television.

An Iranian envoy is to be allowed to meet the five Iranians detained by US forces in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil, state media reported today.

Two of the 15 captured British sailors pointed to a map of the Persian Gulf and identified where they had been arrested 10 days ago on video clips aired by Iranian state-run television channels.

Iran’s official Arabic-language television channel today aired short video clips of what it said were two of the 15 captured British sailors who in the footage pointed to a map of the Persian Gulf.

An alleged ’confession’ by one of 15 British sailors and Marines held captive in Iran is to be broadcast on an Arabic-language TV channel today.

The reported release comes hours after Iranian state television broadcast a few seconds of footage it claimed was of the operation that seized 15 British soldiers in Iranian territorial waters last week.

Iran’s foreign minister said Britain must admit that its 15 sailors and marines entered Iranian waters in order to resolve a standoff over their capture.

Iranian state TV today said it would broadcast footage showing 15 captured British sailors and marines who have been in Iranian custody since last week.

Eight British troops who were detained after straying into Iranian territorial waters have arrived in Tehran, state-run television reported today, and Britain said the men were in the custody of British diplomats.

Eight British soldiers and marines who were detained after straying into Iranian territorial waters have left the Persian Gulf area for Tehran, state-run Iranian television reported.

Iran will prosecute eight British crewmen it detained after they entered Iran’s territorial waters with three military patrol boats, state-run television reported in Tehran.

The British Ministry of Defence was today investigating reports that three Royal Navy vessels had been seized by Iran.